LA Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal was raised by his stepfather, former military sergeant Phillip Harrison. Always a man of discipline, Harrison had a no-nonsense approach. He fathered Shaq with a lot of tough love while he was growing up. Harrison also advised his son to never show weakness. So much so he was asked not to cry in front of people, as it was a sign of “weakness.” However, according to Shaq Uncut, when O’Neal won the 2000 NBA MVP award, his father bawled like a baby.
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All his life, Philip Harrison had been incredibly protective of his son and fought for what he thought was best for him. This included telling coaches off, fighting agents, and giving him frank advice. Because of this, Shaq was especially stunned when his father let his guard down and expressed unfiltered happiness when he won the MVP award.
Philip Harrison broke down when Shaquille O’Neal won the 2000 NBA MVP award
The LA Lakers went on to win the first of their 3 back-to-back championships. They won 67 regular season games, with O’Neal averaging 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds and an incredible 3 blocks per game.
After Shaq was announced as the MVP, he called his father, who reacted rather uncharacteristically. Phillip Harrison, who had told Shaq that tears are a sign of weakness his entire life, himself broke down:
“We won sixty-seven games in ’99–’00, and I was named the Most Valuable Player. I called my father, Sgt. Philip Harrison, and when I told him I had won it, he broke down and cried. The guy who had told me my whole life, ‘No tears— they are a sign of weakness,’ was bawling like a baby. Once he regained his composure, he reminded me I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my new big-ass trophy unless we won a championship, too.”
Phillip Harrison gave his all to ensure Shaq’s success
While O’Neal grew up in poverty, his father went the extra mile for him to ensure that he got everything he needed to succeed. It was clear right from a young age that Shaq had the potential to achieve big things.
However, he needed the presence of a disciplinarian to ensure that he achieved his potential. Many didn’t believe in Shaq’s abilities. However, Harrison always supported Shaq and told him he had everything he needed to succeed.
In an emotional speech on TNT, Shaquille O’Neal talked about Harrison’s impact on his life, back in 2021. Shaq claimed that if not for his father, he would never have made it to the NBA. There is little doubt that Harrison played a very important role in Shaq’s development. It’s clear that he is a major reason behind the success he had in life.
