Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘Strict’ Stepfather Phillip Harrison Once Committed Theft For his Son: “Let Nobody Steal It”

Shaquille O’Neal had an upbringing that was marked by the harsh reality of poverty. Growing up, his family faced financial hardships aplenty. Shaq’s stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison was a strict and disciplined man, who did everything in his power to provide for his son. However, on one fine occasion, just for his dear son, he decided it was necessary to steal a basketball.

To nurture Shaq’s talent, his stepfather resorted to an act of desperation. Aware of the limited resources, he secretly stole, sacrificing his principles for his son’s dreams. This pivotal moment, as revealed in the book, Shaq Talks Back, paved the way for Shaq’s future success.

Shaquille O’Neal practiced and dreamed with a basketball so much, that Sgt. Phillip Harrison stole from his own gym

One defining moment in Shaquille O’Neal’s upbringing occurred when his stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison made a pivotal decision out of love and determination. Harrison, a strict and disciplined man, recognized Shaq’s passion for basketball and understood that it could also be their ticket out of poverty.

So, in order to put his stepson on the right path, he decided to give him a basketball. But, it wasn’t just any basketball. It was an old worn-out one, that Sarge happened to steal from his own gym. A thoughtful gift that allowed The Big Aristotle to work on his game before the start of his high-school career.

However, it did come with some instructions. These instructions were to be followed to the tee. Especially considering a lot of questions would be asked if the origins of the gift were ever discovered.

“My dad used to run a gym. One day he stole a little raggedy-ball from the gym. “This is your ball,” he told me. ‘You play with it, you dribble with it, you dream with it. Don’t take it to school because I don’t want to hear from your teachers. Don’t let nobody steal it from you. And don’t dribble it in the house. I’ll kick your ass if I catch you messing up my furniture.'”

It certainly was an act that was severely out of character for Sarge. After all, this story was in stark contrast to most stories we hear about the late man. Usually, they are stories that involve him disciplining a young Shaq with beatings, to the point, where he almost lost his job because of it.

Phillip Harrison nearly lost his job after he beat Shaq in front of the Military Police

Despite the gift of a “raggedy ball”, wholesomeness isn’t exactly the first word one would associate with Sgt. Phillip Harrison. It’s true he had his generous and kind side, but more often than not, the stories you hear about him raising Shaquille O’Neal have to do with how he disciplined him. And, there were plenty of times when he took it too far.

A great example would be the time he nearly lost his job on grounds of “child abuse” after he beat Shaq for pulling the fire alarm in the army gym. An act that did not sit well with the Military Police.

It’s safe to say, that most of O’Neal’s childhood experiences were fairly traumatic. Especially when it comes to the type of discipline his stepfather imposed on him. Nevertheless, he learned from these experiences, and to this day states that he does not resent his stepfather for his actions. But, rather understands why he did it and the role it played in making him who he is today.