NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, popularly known as Shaq, is also a generous individual. He is considered to be one of the NBA’s most charitable and honest athletes. Because Shaq had a tough childhood, he makes sure no one else has to face the hardships he faced.
Diesel recently discussed how his father taught him discipline early on to help him get on the correct path. He also discussed how the unexpected death of Boston Celtics rookie Len Bias devastated both him and his father. Shaq is grateful to his father for keeping him away from drugs and unpleasant company.
“I respect him more for raising somebody else’s child – and disciplining that child as if it was his own child,” O’Neal said to The Undefeated in 2016. “Without him, I wouldn’t be here today. I’m glad he did it. I did some stupid stuff, stealing cars, hanging with bad people, being around places where drugs were at.”
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Shaq’s step-father Harrison passed away in 2013, and the NBA legend claimed that until he was 11 years old, he was unaware that Harrison wasn’t his biological father. Since then, he has come to know Joseph Toney, his biological father who left him when he was a young boy. The giant declared that he holds no grudges. “The worst ass-whoopin’ I got was when Len Bias passed away” Shaq remembers.
Former basketball player Len Bias passed away at the age of 22 after a heart attack caused by cocaine abuse. According to O’Neal, Harrison entered the home assuming Bias was Shaq’s brother and immediately went nuts. He began sobbing at that point and grabbing Shaq, he said, “If I ever catch you doing coke, I’ll kill you.”
