It was Shaquille O’Neal’s 53rd birthday, and as expected, the love poured in from all corners. Friends, family, and fans showered the Lakers legend with heartfelt wishes. During Inside the NBA on TNT, Charles Barkley—known for his bold takes and even bolder vocal skills—broke into a special birthday serenade for Shaq. And if you’ve ever heard the Suns legend sing, you’d know it was less about hitting the right notes and more about delivering a moment everyone would remember. Shaq’s reaction? Priceless.

But that wasn’t the only highlight of the day. One of his friends, the CEO of Effortless Motors, took things up a notch by promising Shaq a 2025 Chevy truck—now that’s a birthday gift with horsepower! Meanwhile, Shaq’s own brand, Big Chicken, joined the party by offering free ice cream cones to customers while supplies lasted. However, the most meaningful gift of all came from his kids, who found a special way to celebrate their larger-than-life dad.

And Shaq? Just when fans thought the festivities were over, he wrapped up the night with a hilarious twist—one that left everyone laughing. He had his own way of showing appreciation for all the love.

While cruising on a boat, he took to Instagram, lip-syncing to Kwabs’ Last Stand, capturing the moment with a caption that summed it all up: “Y’all know I love y’all, appreciate the love.” A simple yet heartfelt thank you from the Big Diesel himself.

So now let’s explore how Shaq’s kid celebrated his big day.

Shaquille O’Neal’s kids make his day special

Of course, Shaquille O’Neal’s birthday wouldn’t be complete without some love from his kids. Taahirah O’Neal, Shareef O’Neal, Shaqir O’Neal, and Me’Arah O’Neal each took to Instagram to celebrate their dad in their own unique way. Though their posts featured different pictures and memories, the message was the same—they wanted their father to know just how much he meant to them.

Taahirah, Shaq’s eldest, turned her entire Instagram story into a tribute. She kicked things off with an adorable throwback photo of her dad, captioned, “Happy birthday pops❤”. But then came the humor. She reposted a reel from last year with the words, “Behind every spoiled daughter, there is a bald-headed father,” along with a close-up of Shaq’s face. Classic firstborn move.

Meanwhile, Shaqir took a more sentimental route. He shared a childhood picture of himself sitting on his dad’s lap, a moment that clearly held deep meaning. His caption? “Happy B-DAY twin!”—and honestly, they really do look alike. Shareef also joined in with a courtside photo of him and Shaq, writing, “Happy birthday, Pops! Love you, big dawg ❤❤🫶🏾.”

Finally, Me’Arah, the youngest, posted a heartwarming video of her dad surprising her at a Florida Gators game. Her reaction? Pure joy as she hugged him tightly. She kept it simple but sweet: “Happy birthday pops❤‍🩹 i love you.”

Each post was different, but the love was the same. Shaq isn’t just a basketball legend—he’s a father who means the world to his kids.