And if it wasnt for Shaq, Kobe wouldnt be the legend that he is today. My father taught me not to really cry and be sad, so when he passed away I really let it go, because I didnt get to tell him thank you enough. On the podcast, O'Neal admitted he didn't even know Harrison wasn't his biological father until he was 11. Shaq said that this helped him focus throughout his career. Born July 19, 1996, Taahirah O'Neal is the oldest of the O'Neal children. US Army sergeant Phillip Harrison raised Shaq. The Dr. Phil Show is an American daytime talk show and TV series with host and personality Dr. Phil McGraw, who offers advice from his experience as a psychologist. Shaq said: Be the first one to comment on this story. Please logout and login again. Philip Harrison played a prominent role in the upbringing of Shaquille ONeal and even coached his youth basketball teams. He would ask his mother, who at the time explained the situation. O'Neal's No. . Shaq would later meet his biological father, a relationship he recently started working on. However, he could not drive, and a friend sent him a private jet a few hours later. Shaq was rocked by tragedy when his father passed away. One of the greatest big men of all time is none other than Shaquille ONeal. Shaq was estranged from his biological father until he was in his forties. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. He says that this stemmed from losing a friend to drug addiction. According to reports, there was a time when Toney sighted ONeal at a high school game and tried to meet him, but Harrison forbade it. In the wake of the entire affair, O'Neal and Yao became pretty good friends. My father came in the house furious. Phillip Harrison was Jamaican, born in 1947 and grew up leading a disciplinarian life. He has often quoted Harrison telling a young O'Neal that he will make Shaq the most dominant player of all-time. Like his father and his siblings, Shaqir plays. In an interview with Esquire, O'Neal recalled when his father had a less than ideal reaction to a Reebok executive pitching O'Neal a deal worth $10 million: Shaquille O'Neal's father had a great influence early in his career and was crucial in O'Neal becoming the most dominant player in league history. He is a 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) and 325-pound (147 kg) center who played for six teams over his 19-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is a four-time NBA champion. Helping Trying to Bring a Championship to the Knicks. ONeals stepfather reportedly played basketball in his younger days, including playing against Shaq's biological father, Joseph Toney, in high school. Shaquille ONeal, who disliked his biological father, took 11 years to realize Philip Harrison was his stepfather, Shaquille ONeal, who missed over 5,000 free throws, disses himself while trying to flip a bottle, There is no loyalty in sports!: Shaquille ONeal had put the New England Patriots on blast after letting Tom Brady walk. The director and star also told IndieWire about the importance of ASL to the father-daughter . ONeal thanked his stepfather for his success when making the NBAs 75th Anniversary team. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. He is also very proud of his sons accomplishments and always supports him in whatever he does. Philip A. Harrison, a career Army sergeant, helped raise Shaq from a baby. Shaquille O'Neal says that his father threatened to kill him if he ever did drugs after a close friend of his, passed away due to overdose. But two different men. ONeals stepfather was a US Army officer stationed in Wildflecken, Germany, years earlier when ONeal was a kid. Likewise, he talks about another tragic story that happened in Germany. The executive producers are Phil McGraw and showrunner Oprah Winfrey of OWN. Not only did O'Neal become the most dominant player in NBA history, he is widely considered to be one of the 10 best players to have ever played. My brothers and sisters family. Harrison was more than successful in doing so. NBA Legend Shaquille ONeal was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this week, and many stories about his career were retold and explained long after he had been gone from the game. Shaq talks about his stepfather.. "I respect the guy that works hard from cheque to cheque and would do whatever it takes..". He is most remembered for his stints with the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. ONeal was an efficient player, shooting 58.2% from the field throughout his career. You have entered an incorrect email address! It was all me., She claims that although the player stated he didnt need to go into detail about what I was doing, he continued, I wasnt protecting her and upholding those vows.. He has several ventures that have catapulted his net worth to millions. NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this week, and many stories about his career were retold and explained long after he had been gone from the game. He has several companies all across the country and he uses his popularity to perfection. Aug. 15 would have been his stepdad's birthday. Shaquille O'Neal never grew up around his biological father, Joseph Toney, as he relinquished his parenting duties to the late Phillip A. Harrison, who raised O'Neal as a child. Phil Harrison (a military officer and his stepfather) along with ONeals mother raised him from his youth. Kyrie Irving Wrote a Message on His Shoes in His First Game for the Dallas Mavericks Despite Losing $11 Million Nike Deal. During this tough time, Shaqs adoptive father Phillipe Harrison was like an angel sent from heaven. From that moment forward, the ONeal family franchise was in good hands. Shaquille ONeal is opening up about his 2011 divorce from ex-wife Shaunie ONeal. He passed away on Sept. 10, 2013. I didnt know he was that old. Once he was out of jail, Toney reportedly tried to lead a reformed life. Although Shaquille O'Neal is incredibly media-trained, the hulking Hall of Famer has managed to land himself in hot water from time to time. Joe Toney, who played high school basketball and was offered a basketball scholarship to play at Seton Hall. Who Is Bryn Forbes Girlfriend and What Does She Do? He has always been there for Shaq, providing guidance and advice whenever needed. NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 26: Shaquille O'Neal (center) with his family attends the "Uncle Drew" New York Premiere on June 26, 2018 in New York City. Long time ago. His friends had a few beers to drink, and they took the car, which resulted in them getting into an accident and losing their lives. You aint gonna have time to overdose. Shaq had inked a new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers at that time. O'Neal born in Newark, New Jersey was raised by his mother and stepfather, Harrison after Toney left the family following O'Neal's birth. A young O'Neal was reprimanded by Harrison for playing a more toned-down version of basketball. Also Read: Shaquille ONeal, who missed over 5,000 free throws, disses himself while trying to flip a bottle. Strict as he was, its clear that Shaqs father left a legacy that will live on. Your login session has expired. Growing up, Toney played high school basketball and became an All-State guard. Phil tells compelling stories about real people. Harrison later married. ONeal said he plans to meet his other half of the family one day, and with his father being 70 years old now he can take the time to put together the other parts of his life. My mothers family. However, it would take one tragic event to show just how strong and magical his fathers impact actually was. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. MANORCO PVT LTD 2022 | All Rights Reserved. By delivering on his dads dying wishes, NBA star Shaquille ONeal reminds us all that the most valuable thing we pass on to our kids is priceless. Shaq grew up to become one of the greatest big men of all time. In fact, Diesel always talks about how he is eternally grateful to his stepfather. Toney struggled with drug addiction and was imprisoned for drug possession when ONeal was an infant. My father used to come to class and whoop me in front of everybody. In the midst of Ming's rookie year, O'Neal earned quite a bit of criticism for his insensitive and racist remarks during an interview on cable TV. However, none of this would have been possible without his stepfather, the man who promised to make him the greatest big man of all time! Shaquille O'Neal. America's Favorites . ONeal spent some time in Germany as a kid after moving there with his new family. With it, his fathers impact on his discipline, success, and values as a player and as a person truly hit home. Thanks to his father's discipline, training, and guiding hand, Shaq was able to evolve into one of the greatest big men to ever play the game. However, it was Philip Harrison who made him the man he is today, and he wont tell you otherwise! . Shaquille O'Neal meets children at the Henry County Boys and Girls Club in July 2022 after donating $1 million to the program. He said, Man, I never knew, this feels great.. Duringthat time, the family traveled and lived in different parts of the world on military bases. It is noteworthy that Harrison was not O'Neal's biological father, but rather, an adoptive parent. One of the most notable instances of that came back in 2003, when O'Neal was in the midst of the second half of his stint with the Lakers. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. You can bet that looking back, Hall of Fame basketball behemoth Shaquille ONeal has many friends, coaches, and teammates to thank for his massive success. All rights reserved. Shaquille ONeal is one of the best players in NBA History and he is arguably the most dominant one. Thanks to his stepfather, though, Shaq fell in love with the game and decided to follow in idols' footsteps. 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Shaq says that his father stopped him from having an addiction. Who Is Mikal Bridges Girlfriend Grainger Rosati? Shaquille O'Neal On Meeting His Biological Father: 'I Don't Judge Him' Dr. Phil 6.18M subscribers Subscribe 1.7M views 3 years ago #DrPhilShow #DrPhil #PhilMcGraw Basketball legend. 1. (Suggested Reading: Isiah Thomas says Victor Wembanyama will 'change the NBA'), Be the first one to comment on this story. Shaq says that this tragic story helped him get to where he is. After winning three straight championships, O'Neal made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Moreover, they accepted her relationship moving on from Shaquille O'Neal with open arms. It was his stepfather who recognized the talent he possessed and nurtured him into becoming a four-time champion, MVP, and perennial All-NBA and All-Star player. Whenever Shaq felt like he was going out of line, he had a panel of five of his closest people who would advise him on everything. As a self-confessed bully who frequently found himself in hot water, O'Neal credits his father's influence with guiding him in the right direction. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Yao Ming not only accepted Shaquille O'Neal's apology, he even went a step further by chalking it up to cultural differences. Also Checkout:- Shaquille ONeal Net Worth. WATCH THIS STORY: Draft day trades that changed the NBA forever. However, he never would have become one of the greats if it wasnt for his stepfather, Philip Harrison. Also Read: Shaquille O'Neal, who missed over 5,000 free throws, disses himself while trying to flip a bottle It's clear that Shaq had a special bond with his father. Harrison then a sergeant in the U.S. Army, brought up O'Neal at military bases all over the world, including Germany and Texas, where he became a legendary prep. He went on Dr.Phil and spoke about meeting his biological father at 44. ONeal met with Toney at a restaurant in Newark after not seeing him since he was 12-years-old. Your login session has expired. Your login session has expired. Phillip Harrison forbade those efforts, and it remained that way until his death. In fact, there has been no shortage of superstars, especially when it comes to the talent at the big man positions. Theres no doubt that Shaq has made his father proud. His efforts won him an offer for a basketball scholarship at Seton Hall, but little else is known about his basketball career. Because of Toneys issues with drugs and leaving his family behind, Harrison watched Shaqs growth closely, ensuring he would not stray. Shaquille O'Neal and his biological father Joseph Toney. With it, his father's impact on his discipline, success, and values as a player and as a person truly hit home. As a self-confessed bully who frequently found himself in . Shaq explained that before passing, Harrison asked him to make a promise to take care of his family. So I always say you know what, no drugs for me.. A post shared by Shaqir O'Neal (@shaqironeall) At 18, Shaqir is Shaq's youngest son and one of the four children that he shares with ex Shaunie. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Shaquille ONeal is a very successful businessman. In fact, he wanted nothing to do with Shaq and signed away all his parental rights. A content writer at Sportsmanor. He is one of the greatest of all time and no one can take that away from him. But, I was a major, high-level juvenile delinquent that couldve definitely been in trouble all the time., With a little introspection, ONeal was thankful for it, adding, thats why he knew that all the tactics he used on me would definitely work. He made sure that Shaq had access to everything that he wanted growing up. In an appearance on the "Impaulsive" podcast, Shaq revealed. She really was. Ive never talked about this, and Im glad you guys asked because I dont mind talking about this, but I was bad, Shaq said. After Shaquille O'Neal's father ripped into him for being disrespectful towards Yao Ming, Shaq apologized for potentially offending everyone. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yeah. During an interview with the LA Times in the wake of Shaq's apology, Ming said: As it turns out, O'Neal's on-air apology wasn't the only one. His presence in Shaqs life was so massive that he actually had no idea that Harrison wasnt his real father till he turned 11 years old. The Lakers legend grew up under the guidance of his step-father Harrison and did not reconcile with his biological father until 2016. The man could do everything from dunk at will to back down the opponent till he got to the basket. But it has definitely started moving in a positive direction lately. starting off in the year 2012. Like his father, Shareef has had a career in basketball. O'Neal and his ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal share four children together: sons Shareef and Shaqir and daughters Amirah and. . Shareef O'Neal played in a pair of Nike KD 13 during the Lakers summer league game. Be the first one to comment on this story. Harrison envisioned a style of play for ONeal, which utilized his gifts as a big man. Harrison saw potential in O'Neal and was a guiding force throughout his basketball career. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. Shaq says that these two incidents motivated him to stay on course and helped to reach the NBA. Later, Toney made an effort. 34 was retired by the LA Lakers in 2013 and No. This is what Shaq had to say when he was asked to comment on it. Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. He showed him. O'Neal has often talked about his father, Philip A. Harrison, being a massive influence in his life. It proves that the most priceless thing you can leave your children are values that enrich others. BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 27: Shaquille O'Neal reacts during the first half of a game between the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November . On Tuesday Shaquille O'Neal posted a heartfelt remembrance to his late stepfather on Instagram. The five-time champion and his former wife, Shaunie Nelson . Shaquille O'Neal has long been an active businessman and media personality, even as a player. (C) 1994 Zomba Recording LLChttp://vevo.ly/CIo4ZN#ShaquilleONeal #Biolo. However, he didnt even know they were not related till he was 11! Thats the kind of highlight reel we should all strive for. Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury Update: Will Giannis Play in the All-Star Game? Make Or Break Season 2 Release Date | When Is Series Coming Out. He has been following the NBA for nearly 10 years, since first Apart from all of this Shaquille ONeals real father did not even try and reconnect with his family after he was done serving 6 years in prison for the charges against him. Furious. It was a jarring blow even for the man nicknamed 'Superman.' Shareef O'Neal said Wednesday that after butting heads with his father, basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, over his decision to enter the NBA draft, his dad is now on his side. Instead, ONeal was raised by a retired US Army sergeant, Phillip Harrison, whom his mother Lucille ONeal later married. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. My job is to just love him as much as I can nowand that is exactly what he has been doing all these years. He is the son of Shaunie O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal. Hes 70! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Free shipping for many products! In 1994, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal released a rap song publicly taking a dig at his biological father, Joseph Toney, who tried mending fences with the former Magic center. A little bit of time and a different perspective can change things, and the two have continually been in touch with each other since their lunch meeting. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born on March 6, 1972 . There was a time that Shaquille O'Neal made it his mission for the Los Angeles Lakers to make the playoffs. As it happened, all three of them walked down the aisle with their mother. Joseph Toney spent around six years in prison after abandoning his family. During a recent appearance on "Hot Ones," O'Neal revealed that his father, Sgt. Please logout and login again. Shaquille O'Neal recalled a valuable lesson he learned from his stepfather, Philip Harrison, during his rookie year in the NBA. Home. Shaqs relationship with his real father may have started off shaky. Before Dwight Howard was the best man in Orlando it was Shaq who was doing all the heavy lifting for that squad. Phillip Harrison succumbed to a series of health issues at 66, passing away in 2013. Shaquille O'Neal retired as a four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, 2000 MVP, 15-time All-Star and 14-time All-NBA honoree. It was a jarring blow even for the man nicknamed Superman.. Shaq was raised by Phillipe Harrison, who was an army sergeant. Being raised that way explains why he used a similar approach in raising Shaquille ONeal. O'Neal was a toddler when his birth father, Joseph Toney, was arrested for drug possession and forging checks. Shaquille O'Neal speaks during Pepsi Stronger Together and CTG Foundation Atlanta Law Enforcement on in McDonough, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal is a proud father of six kids . Shaquille ONeal was troubled upon receiving the news. Bryn Forbes Wife and Kids: Is Forbes Married? Shaq has said multiple times that his kids should get their own degrees, and not dream about taking a part of his wealth without achieving something. He went on record to criticize Shaqs biological father sometime after Shaq became famous around the world. And while many weren't sold on Shaq's remorse, the incident didn't seem to phase Yao Ming as much as everyone expected. Shaquille ONeal is probably the most dominant big man that we will ever get to see on an NBA court.