9

Jun

Power Moves

How Shaquille O'Neal talked son Shareef out of NBL1

Written By

Peter Brown

basketball.com.au

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Power Moves: Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal talked son Shareef out playing in NBL1

NBA Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal talked his son Shareef out of playing in NBL1 in Australia, it has been revealed.

"I got a nice offer from overseas to go and play NBL1 in Australia," Shareef said during the first episode of Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal.

"I was set on going to Australia and then I hung out with my dad one last time and he kind of changed my mind about going over there being that far away from the family.

"You know, he pitched this idea with Reebok and he said I could have a role in the rebrand and just of a weird time for me to start 'cause I'm also trying to get into the NBA.

"I wanna get into the NBA for my own good but I also want to help with this too."

Shaquille O'Neal and his son Shareef O'Neal at the LSU Lady Tigers and the Colorado Buffaloes during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series at T-Mobile Arena on November 7, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Shaq told his son: "You know when I took over this Rebook job I definitely had you in mind 'cause I knew was gonna need some help and you're gonna be my help.

"When I became the president of Reebok my first order of business was putting a team together that I trust. So I called Shareef."

Shareef, 25, reportedly reached out to the Diamond Valley Eagles about the prospect of playing Down Under in 2023.

Code reported: "Diamond Valley felt optimistic about their chances of securing O’Neal — however in recent days fellow NBL1 side — the Waverley Falcons have also emerged as a contender."

Shareef O'Neal #8 of G League Ignite warms up before an exhibition game against Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 at The Dollar Loan Center on October 7, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. Photo: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

O'Neal, who won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat, is the new president of Reebok in an attempt to "Pump" the shoe brand back up to its heyday of the 1990s.

"My history with Reebok and passion for the brand — plus my knowledge of basketball and basketball culture — make me the most qualified person for the role. Plain and simple," O'Neal said.

"What always stood out to me about Reebok is their belief in me since day one.

"They signed me as a rookie — gave me the biggest endorsement deal they had ever given to anyone at the time; gave me the first signature shoe they’d ever given to an athlete before.

"I can’t tell you what that feeling was like to just have this brand be all in on me before I had even stepped on the pro court. I’ll never forget it."

Los Angeles Lakers centre Shaquille O'Neal lands descends after dunking the ball during a game against the Phoenix Suns at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California in 1996. The Lakers won the game, 96-82. Photo: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport

Shareef played four years of NCAA men's college basketball, the first two for UCLA (2018-20) and his Junior and Senior years at LSU (2020-22), where his father attended in the early 90s.

The 208cm centre was diagnosed with a heart condition in December 2018 that required surgery. Health and injuries impacted the younger O'Neal's college career.

He went undrafted in 2022.

Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal is streaming on Netflix.

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