Prior To Being Gifted $100,000 Car, Lucille O’Neal Described Raising ‘Man-Child’ Shaquille O’Neal On Her Own

Shaquille O’Neal grew up to be one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen in the 75 years of its existence. He would however, have to earn every single accolade every step of the way. Nothing was given when it came to Shaq and it all started from when he was a child.

Lucille O’Neal, Shaq’s mother, raised him as a single mother for quite some time before Phillip Harrison entered her life. The army sergeant was told by Lucille that her and her son come as a package deal and that he would have to provide them both if he wanted to marry her.

Of course, Harrison obliged and was one of the biggest reasons for why Shaq wanted to become a basketball player. It was Harrison who took him to a Philadelphia 76ers game and after his son would get enamored by Julius Erving’s play, he told him that he wanted to be an NBA player. Harrison told him he would help him reach his goal if he listened to everything he advised him on.

Also read: “I Don’t Wanna Beat Me’arah In 1v1”: Shaquille O’Neal ‘Ducks’ Matchup Against His Daughter

Lucille O’Neal on the struggles of raising Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal is a 7’1 man who weighs anywhere between 300 to 400lbs, sometimes he exceeding the upper limit of that range. So, it’s safe to say that when he was a child, he was quite the handful from a pure physicality standpoint.

With Joseph Toney (Shaq’s biological father) out of the picture, Lucille was left to her own devices to raise Shaq while she herself was incredibly young. Luckily for her, her mother did provide her with a home to stay at but this didn’t mean she had to take on multiple jobs to provide for herself and her son.

While on the Raising Fame podcast with Sonya and Dell Curry, Lucille revealed how she felt perplexed as to how she would deal with this ‘man-child’ all on her own.

Lucille O’Neal on raising @SHAQ as a single mother through the ups and downs. #RaisingFame #WeAreFamily #shaq @NBAonTNT 🎙LISTEN: https://t.co/UuvfQ8A04U pic.twitter.com/ODbsrWSdql

— Raising Fame with the Currys (@raising_fame) February 20, 2020

It did turn out quite alright though as Lucille and Phillip would raise Shaq and stay together up until his passing in 2013. Along the way, ‘The Big Aristotle’ would spoil his parents, buying them houses worth millions and even a Mercedes worth over $100,000.

Also read: Despite Hanging Out $2.5 Billion Worth Celebrities, Shaquille O’Neal Avoided ‘Weirdo’ Kobe Bryant