Shaquille O’Neal has achieved great things. He credits a lot to the support of his dad, his adopted dad. He found out when he was just 11.
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Shaq will always tell you he was fortunate to be where he is. For someone so successful, he sure knows his privilege. The Lakers legend is among the most successful players in the NBA.
His career outside the sport is simply legendary. He is among the most successful businessmen in all of America and his face is a regular feature on TV.
So, how does an NBA center, a very dominant one, end up as a business mogul? Through the right upbringing, of course. It is no secret that Shaq’s dad is not his real dad.
As Shaquille O’Neal, himself would say, “I didn’t find out he was my real dad till I was 11”.
Shaquille O’Neal found out he isn’t a Harrison by birth!
So a curious 11-year-old Shaq asked his mom, why their brothers and sisters’ last name was Harrison while he was O’neal. She simply said “you wanna meet your real dad?” and then she took him to the projects in New Jersey.
He saw the condition of the place and all he could think was “I’m cool where I am, got a house, brothers and sisters, a happy life”.
As the story goes, Shaquille O’Neal discloses that his biological dad show up when he turned 18.
After Shaq’s adopted dad passed away, his mum insisted that he see his real dad. O’Neal narrates that at first he was angry but then he doesn’t hold a grudge.
He simply says he understands his privilege and that his life went the way it was supposed to go. He doesn’t believe in the terms biological and non-biological.
According to him, his real dad raised him.
