Shaquille O’Neal has often narrated stories about living under the roof of his strict stepfather, Sgt. Phillip Harrison. A fiercely protective father, Harrison was a former Army sergeant who wasn’t afraid to discipline Shaq as a kid. O’Neal would often get into trouble at home and be religiously punished by his dad. According to his book, Shaq Uncut, Shaq found solace in the likes of NBA legends Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.
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During this time, Shaq was already planning his future and dreamt of playing in the NBA. He would follow a strict routine, study the game of some famous big men, and religiously try to integrate their styles into his own game. With an illustrious career that resulted in 4 NBA titles, it would be fair to say Shaq was able to succeed.
Shaquille O’Neal Found Solace in Patrick Ewing and Michael Jordan
Back in high school, O’Neal was obviously already a top prospect expected to make his way to the NBA. Shaq’s physical gifts meant that he had a huge advantage over his peers. However, he wasn’t all about strength and took inspiration from some of the greatest big men of the NBA.
This included the likes of Patrick Ewing and Michael Jordan, the latter more of a universal inspiration for youngsters at the time. In his book, Shaq revealed that he would dream about Ewing and Jordan when he was punished by his father.
“When I was in high school and stuck inside on punishment because I did something Sarge didn’t like, I’d sit back and watch Michael Jordan and Ewing and take all sorts of mental notes. Now when I closed my eyes, I wasn’t dreaming about the Hulk or Superman anymore. I was dreaming about Ewing and Jordan.”
As one can expect, O’Neal was not the most disciplined kid and needed the presence of his father who kept Shaq in check. Considering his personality and stories, there is little doubt that he got plenty of time to dream about his favorite stars. Years later, he was drafted by Orlando Magic and got to face off against his idols on the NBA court.
Shaquille O’Neal Has Often Credited His Dad for His Success
Sgt. Phillip Harrison’s impact on Shaq’s career has been huge, right until he actually succeeded. O’Neal has talked about a range of life lessons and advice that he has learned from his father.
For example, Shaq once credited his father for making him a leader, and not a follower. According to Basketball Network, Harrison was involved in almost all spheres of Shaq’s life.
From financial advice to general discipline, Shaq owes much of his success to his father, something that he is well aware of, according to NBC. Considering the kind of success he has had, and the philanthropic contributions he has made to society, there is little doubt that the late Phillip Harrison was extremely proud of how his son turned out.
