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Shaquille O’Neal discusses family sacrifices
Shaquille O’Neal, a retired American basketball player, discussed the personal costs of his NBA career in Netflix’s Power Moves. The documentary series featured a conversation with his son Shareef about basketball and family responsibilities.
The series premiered in June 2025 and followed O’Neal’s work with Reebok Basketball. Their conversation addressed how professional commitments affected family time, including important childhood events that O’Neal missed during his years in the NBA.
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Shaquille O’Neal recalls missed family moments
Shaquille O’Neal discussed missed birthdays and other family occasions with his son Shareef in Power Moves. Their conversation examined the demands of professional basketball and the time players can spend away from their families.
Shareef listened as his father reflected on the choices involved in pursuing a successful basketball career. O’Neal also raised questions about whether his son would accept similar commitments while working toward his own professional goals.
s_bukley/DepositphotosShaquille O’Neal earned $292 million in NBA
Shaquille O’Neal earned approximately $292.2 million in NBA salaries across his 19 seasons, according to Basketball Reference. His highest listed annual salary was approximately $27.7 million with the Miami Heat during the 2004 to 2005 season.
O’Neal entered the NBA with the Orlando Magic in 1992 and finished his playing career with the Boston Celtics in 2011. His salary total excludes endorsement agreements, television earnings, licensing income, and business investments.
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Shaquille O’Neal won 4 NBA championships
Shaquille O’Neal won 4 NBA championships during his 19-season career. He captured 3 consecutive titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 through 2002 before winning another championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
The former center earned 3 NBA Finals MVP awards and the 2000 regular season MVP award. He also received 15 NBA All-Star selections while representing 6 franchises during his professional basketball career.
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Shaquille O’Neal married Shaunie in 2002
Shaquille O’Neal married Shaunie Nelson in December 2002 while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The couple had 4 children together during their marriage: sons Shareef and Shaqir and daughters Amirah and Me’arah.
O’Neal also helped raise Shaunie’s son Myles from an earlier relationship. His eldest daughter, Taahirah, was born during his previous relationship with Arnetta Yardbourgh, bringing the total number of children in his family to 6.
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Shaquille O’Neal accepts responsibility for divorce
Shaquille O’Neal and Shaunie Nelson separated in 2009 following several years of marriage. Their divorce proceedings continued into the period surrounding O’Neal’s 2011 retirement from professional basketball, ending their marriage.
During a 2022 appearance on The Pivot podcast, O’Neal accepted responsibility for mistakes during the marriage. He acknowledged that his own behavior contributed to their separation rather than attributing the divorce entirely to basketball commitments.
Fun fact:Shaquille O’Neal won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
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Shaquille O’Neal recalls loneliness after divorce
Shaquille O’Neal described feeling alone in his Florida home after his marriage ended. During a 2022 interview on The Pivot, he recalled walking through rooms where his children had previously spent time together.
O’Neal described the residence as a 76,000-square-foot house during the conversation. His account focused on the absence of his children and how daily life changed after the family stopped living together.
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Shaquille O’Neal reflects on fatherhood
Shaquille O’Neal has discussed the importance of being present for his children outside professional basketball. His public reflections have included missed family occasions, the breakdown of his marriage, and his responsibilities as a father.
In his 2022 conversation on The Pivot, O’Neal linked his regrets about marriage to his experience of living apart from his children. He described family relationships as an important part of his life after retirement.
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Shareef O’Neal underwent heart surgery in 2018
Shareef O’Neal joined UCLA in 2018 after attending Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. Before making his college basketball debut, doctors discovered a heart condition that required surgery and interrupted his first season with the Bruins.
Shareef underwent the procedure in December 2018 and later returned to basketball activities. He eventually transferred to LSU, where he continued playing college basketball while preparing for potential professional opportunities.
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Shareef O’Neal entered the 2022 NBA draft
Shareef O’Neal entered the 2022 NBA draft after playing college basketball at UCLA and LSU. He told ESPN that his father initially disagreed with his decision to leave college and pursue professional basketball opportunities.
Shareef was not selected in the draft but played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022 NBA Summer League. He subsequently joined NBA G League Ignite for the 2022 to 2023 season.
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Shareef O’Neal explains ending NBA pursuit
Shareef O’Neal later explained that repeated health setbacks influenced his decision to stop pursuing an NBA playing career. After undergoing heart surgery during college, he also experienced knee problems that required additional medical procedures.
Speaking about his decision in 2026, Shareef said he no longer wanted to continue undergoing procedures to pursue a professional basketball career. He described playing the sport for enjoyment rather than continuing to chase an NBA roster spot.
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Shaquille O’Neal leads Reebok Basketball
Shaquille O’Neal became president of Reebok Basketball in October 2023, with former NBA star Allen Iverson serving as vice president. The appointments brought 2 former Reebok athletes into leadership roles within the company’s basketball business.
Their work became the subject of Netflix’s Power Moves, a 6-episode documentary series released in June 2025. The program followed efforts to rebuild Reebok’s basketball presence through footwear development, marketing, and athlete partnerships.
Curious why Shaquille O’Neal believes Joel Embiid could surpass Nikola Jokic? See why Shaquille O’Neal guarantees Joel Embiid will pass Nikola Jokic.
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Shaquille O’Neal works alongside son Shareef
Shaquille O’Neal and Shareef developed a professional working relationship through Reebok after Shareef stepped away from pursuing an NBA playing career. Shareef became involved in creative strategy and discussions about basketball footwear and athlete recruitment.
Shareef’s responsibilities included sharing feedback about products and the preferences of younger basketball players. Their collaboration gave father and son opportunities to work together in the sports industry beyond their earlier experiences with professional basketball.
Wondering how much Shaquille O’Neal earned throughout his NBA career? Explore why Shaquille O’Neal really earned almost $300 million playing basketball.
Do you think Shaquille O’Neal’s NBA success was worth the sacrifices he made in his family life? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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