Shaquille O’Neal just lately shared a strong and pivotal second from his youth that helped form his legendary profession. Throughout an look on The OGs podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, Shaq recalled a recreation from his teenage years the place his father, Phillip Harrison, slapped him in entrance of a packed gymnasium to remind him of his true potential.
“I bear in mind this prefer it was yesterday—I had 45 factors in three quarters. So we had been enjoying towards little children. We’re up by 40, and I wished to work on my shot. I crossed a dude up at half-court, gave him a pleasant little transfer.”
“You recognize, as an alternative of going to dunk it—’trigger I am 6’11″—I get to the free-throw line, shoot a jumper, and I miss. My father walks on the courtroom, in his Drill Sergeant ‘Name a timeout.’ He grabs me by my collar, takes me exterior.”
“‘What you doing?’ I say man I’m engaged on my, (will get slapped on the top)”
“Magic Johnson. Be Shaq!” So now the entire gymnasium, all people noticed me get smacked, I am unable to cry. So coach calls a play I mentioned f**okay that give me the ball.”
“As a result of now I’m mad, when I’m dunking I wanna break the rim only for this motherf***er smacked me in entrance of all people. So, the subsequent 20 performs, I am dunking—increase, increase, increase—getting my knees up. He is like, ‘That is what I am speaking about!'”
As a younger participant, Shaq, who stood 6’11” by his teenage years, admired NBA stars like Magic Johnson. He wished to play with finesse, dealing with the ball and taking pictures jumpers like guards, regardless that his bodily presents made him extra fitted to dominating the paint. In the future, throughout a recreation wherein his workforce was up by 40 factors, Shaq determined to strive his hand at enjoying like Magic. He crossed up a defender and, as an alternative of going for a dunk, tried a soar shot—which he missed.
That’s when his father, a strict Military drill sergeant, stepped in. Harrison referred to as a timeout, walked onto the courtroom, grabbed Shaq by his collar, and took him exterior. Earlier than Shaq might clarify himself, his father slapped him throughout the face. The slap wasn’t simply bodily—it was a wake-up name for Shaq to embrace his distinctive presents and play to his strengths.
Embarrassed however motivated, Shaq re-entered the sport with a newfound aggression. Fueled by his father’s powerful love, he spent the remainder of the sport dunking relentlessly, overpowering his opponents with ease.
This incident was a turning level for Shaq. He embraced his measurement, energy, and athleticism, unlocking a mentality that may make him some of the dominant gamers in NBA historical past. Now not making an attempt to be somebody he wasn’t, Shaq leaned into his pure presents and have become an unstoppable drive on the courtroom, utilizing his brute energy and agility to overpower opponents and shatter backboards.
Shaq’s father’s powerful love could have been unorthodox, however it helped instill in him the mindset that led to a rare NBA profession. With 4 championships, three Finals MVPs, and a spot in basketball historical past, Shaquille O’Neal lived as much as his father’s expectations by being his most genuine, dominant self.
