Many NBA celebrations have been immortalized by the players who invented them. Among them, former Atlanta Hawks star Dikembe Mutombo’s finger wag is probably one of the most iconic. The gesture was made even more iconic after Michael Jordan performed it following his first-ever slam dunk on Mutombo. Recently, Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter Me’Arah O’Neal imitated the same move after blocking her opponent’s dunk attempt in typical Mutombo fashion.
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Interestingly, Shaq faced the great Mutombo 22 years ago, in the 2001 NBA Finals between Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers. A 28-year-old O’Neal was matched up against a prime Mutombo. The Diesel not only dominated Mutombo but also elbowed him in the face while trying to score.
Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter Me’Arah does the legendary finger wag of Dikembe Mutombo
At 17 years of age, Me’Arah is already reaping the benefits of her father’s genetic gifts, standing at a staggering 6’4. With her height, skills and basketball IQ, she is able to control and direct the game on many levels. She is not only a beast in the paint area, but also can score jumpers at her will and block shots as a rim protector.
In a recent video, she did the Mutombo wag after blocking an opponent’s shot. Playing for CyFair, Me’Arah was in the paint and saw a smaller player trying to attack the paint. She immediately rose up and swatted her dunk attempt. The block was so hard that the player was later seen on the floor. Just then, Me’Arah walked away slowly down the court doing the legendary finger wag. It’s no wonder that Shaq has always praised her youngest daughter and even hailed her as the most talented hooper to come out of the O’Neal household.
College options for Me’Arah, will she carry on her father’s legacy at LSU?
Me’Arah has risen up to become one of the best players in the paint area in her class. Apart from dominating the glass and scoring at their will, she also has the ability to be a nightmare on the defensive end. She is just 17 years old and her game is bound to better with age. After showing her dominant performance in the Nike EYBL circuit, speculations have started about the schools that she might choose.
A total of eight destinations spots await her talents before the 2024 season. LSU, Baylor University, University of Kentucky, University of Florida, Georgia Tech, UC Berkeley, ASU, and University of Tennessee, all look forward to enrolling the talented hooper next year. Shaq attended LSU (Louisiana State University) from 1989 to 1992 and won several accolades there. During his college years, he was so dominant that he was even considered for the 1992 Dream Team. Now it remains to be seen if Me’Arah joins her father’s alma mater and continues his legacy.
