Shaq wears a lot of hats. He’s one of the best basketball players to ever live, an absolute force who was capable of manhandling just about anyone who had to try and guard him. He’s a television analyst, a businessman, and about a million other things that have made him one of the most ubiquitous people in the world of sports.
But when the lights are dimmed and he’s away from the craziness that surrounds his life, Shaq is the father of one of the premier high school basketball prospects in the nation, Shareef O’Neal. A high-four-star recruit, Shareef will join UCLA this summer, giving the Bruins a uniquely talented addition to their frontcourt. Despite being Shaq’s son, Shareef is a skilled offensive player with the ability to score from all over the court despite being 6’10.
Shaq sat down with Dime to discuss Reef’s game during an event at Barclays Center last week that JCPenney put on for children at the local YMCA alongside 2018 NBA Draft hopefuls Marvin Bagley III, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Mikal Bridges. Shaq famously has never pressured Reef to make it as a basketball player, but as the big man told Dime, when his son wants his help, Shaq is excited to help him work on his game.
Dime: What’s it like being the father of someone who is going to go through the draft process in a few years?
Shaq: I’m lucky I had the blueprint, lucky I was part of the blueprint building process. So everything my father did with me, I’m doing with him and it’s working. Stay out of his way, teach him, let him learn from experience, treat him like a man, and it’s all worked out. I’m not one of these dads … ’cause I don’t really care if he makes or not. My thing is “I want you to be educated,” I tell him, “We don’t need more basketball players. I need some lawyers in the family. I need some hedge fund operators. I need some engineers. If you want to play basketball, this is what you gotta do.”
So everything I laid out, he’s done it, he’s running well. So hopefully in two or three years I’ll be in this position. But even when he’s going through this, I won’t be around. I’ll let him go through it on his own.
What’s the best part about getting to go through things like the recruiting process with ‘Reef, and eventually the draft process, from the perspective of the dad?
Well I didn’t have to go through any of that ’cause I knew that I was going to be the first pick so I didn’t have through anything, didn’t have to try out for anybody. I didn’t have to do anything. So, I can’t answer that question.
Well, what’s it like watching him go through that?
You know it’s fun. It’s fun. I’ve been knowing Marvin … Marvin and Shareef played when they were young on the same team, so I’ve been watching this family go through the process for a long, long time and I’m happy for him.
So let’s get a quick scouting report on Reef. What does he do well? Where can he improve?
He can improve on all parts of the game. He can really shoot the ball for a big guy and has a nice handle. Need to get him stronger, maybe get him a little tougher ,and I’m putting him through the Shaq NBA training seminar this summer so he’ll be ready next year at UCLA.
What all goes into the Shaq NBA training seminar?
Well I teach them the NBA moves, NBA stuff. I don’t teach them the little basic drills that these trainers have. I put them in position and I put them in training positions. I put them in and then I can teach moves through his favorite players. “Give me that James Harden step back,” and he knows what I’m talking about. “Give me the Steph Curry put between your legs, pull up, give me the Kevin Durant turn around, under control, look see who got a small guy and then shoot.” So you know, that’s same thing my dad did to me.
Is that one of those things where you think with how the league is moving towards the athletic guys, the big guys, who get out on the perimeter? Do you think it’s important for them to have that?
Yeah, the reason why I don’t really punctuate that we become an inside player because that’s not how the game is being played now. So he has the ability to shoot from just about anywhere, just guard, just play his game.
One thing I everyone knows the answer to this but just so I can get it on the record. Let’s say everything breaks right, he makes it into the NBA, it’s not one of those things where you necessarily want him going to one of the teams you played for. You want him to carve out his own path, correct?
You want him to carve out his own path whoever picks him, want him to do his job, the real job to the best of his ability and have fun. Don’t worry about trying to outdo my numbers. Do the best you can and just have fun. I was crazy when I played. It’s all I can do, so.
And the last question. Has he every beaten you one on one?
No.
Has he ever come close?
No.
What’s the score line usually?
10-7.
