Shaquille O’Neal, now 50, was born in Newark, New Jersey. He is a Hall of Famer, known for being a dominant NBA player, and now is an “Inside the NBA” TV analyst.
Notably, he was born to Lucille O’Neal and Joseph Toney, a basketball player who was even awarded a scholarship to play at Seton Hall. He was the oldest among 4 siblings.
His father got caught up in drug addiction & was imprisoned for possession.
He had complete disdain for the family even after his release & was out of the picture of Shaq's upbringing.
Shaq was brought up by his stepfather Phillip Harrison, an Army Sergeant. Phillip would be a big influence in shaping Shaq’s life & had even encouraged him to take up basketball.
Shaq would go on to spend his childhood in Germany because of the nature of Phillip’s job. They then move to Texas when he was 16.
He started playing at Robert G. Cole High School. The big man noted later how he used to be bullied in school, as he was never the “smartest“.
He became the ‘College Player of the Year at Louisiana State College & subsequently drops out for NBA.