Shaquille O’Neal is known for a lot of things—dominant dunks, four NBA championships, hilarious one-liners on Inside the NBA, and a second career as DJ Diesel. But in a recent appearance on the TODAY show, Shaq stepped off the court and into full-on dad mode, offering a glimpse into the mindset that drives both his legendary work ethic and his parenting style.
At 53, the Hall of Fame big man isn’t pushing his kids to follow in his massive size-22 footsteps.
“We don’t need another basketball player. At all,” Shaq said with a grin. “If you want to play, cool. But please go to law school. Please go to medical school. Please be an engineer. Please be an AI inventor. Just do something else.”
Shaq, who has seven children, says he gives them the freedom to be who they are, without pressure to replicate his path. And while he’s got plenty of love to give, he’s not handing out free passes when it comes to success.
“In order to touch daddy’s cheese, you got to show me two or three degrees,” he joked.
Shaq’s kids—Shareef (25), Amirah (23), Shaqir (21), and Me’arah (19), plus three others—have carved their own lanes. Some have dabbled in sports, but Shaq says he’s more interested in them finding their own passion, not chasing his legacy.
“I never say, ‘Do this or do that,’” he said. “They just have to live their lives. I hate using this word, but I have seven perfect children. I haven’t had a problem with any of my children ever. God bless.”
That sense of balance—hard work, humility, and heart—is at the center of Shaq’s latest project, the Netflix docuseries Power Moves With Shaquille O’Neal, which follows him in his new role as President of Reebok Basketball.
In one particularly emotional moment, Shaq has a real talk with his son Shareef, who’s exploring a basketball career of his own.
“You know you’re going to have to give everything up, right?” Shaq says. “How many birthday parties did I miss? How many school plays? How many times did you wake up and not see me there?”
Shareef’s answer: “A lot.”
It’s a raw reminder that the pursuit of greatness doesn’t come without sacrifice. And while Shaq has no regrets about the career that made him a global icon, he’s making sure his kids understand the costs—and the alternatives.
Of course, Shaq fans can still catch him on Inside the NBA, where his chemistry with Charles Barkley and the crew is as sharp as ever. Whether he’s breaking down plays or breaking into dance, O’Neal remains one of the most entertaining figures in sports media.
But off-camera, he’s simply Dad—dropping wisdom, encouraging dreams, and making sure the next generation of O’Neals knows that life is about more than basketball.