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- Despite His Kids Following in His Basketball Footsteps, Shaq Doesn’t “Care About None of That”
Despite His Kids Following in His Basketball Footsteps, Shaq Doesn’t “Care About None of That”
Getty / Denise Truscello
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has been making headlines for decades because of his humor and athleticism, but we need to also talk about his ridiculously talented family.
Shaq is a father of six children. All of them are cool as hell and most of them play basketball just like their dad – not that Shaq cared about their athletic skills while raising them. In an October 2021 interview on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, he said he always prioritized his kids’ education and developing their business acumen over athleticism. “You gotta have bachelor’s or master’s [degrees] and then if you want me to invest in one of your companies, you’re going to have to present it, boom boom boom, bring it to me,” he said (via NY Post). “I’ll let you know, I’m not giving you nothing.”
He continued, “There’s one rule: education. I don’t care if you play basketball. I don’t care about none of that. Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business. But I tell them I’m not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it.”
Ahead, get to know all of Shaq’s kids better.
Getty / Prince Williams
Taahirah O'Neal
Taahirah O’Neal was born in 1996. She is Shaq’s oldest child with ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh. She was born in Orlando, FL, but moved to Houston after attending college. Taahirah largely stays out of the public eye, choosing instead to lead a more private life. She is reportedly into philanthropy and helping others, working with groups like The Trevor Project to try to better the world.
Getty Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Shaqir Rashaun O'Neal
Shaqir Rashaun O’Neal was born in 2003. He is Shaq’s youngest son with his ex-wife Shaunie. Shaqir, of course, also plays basketball. His Instagram is devoted to showing off his basketball skills and his charmed life, including photos with celebrities like Tyler, the Creator, and several posts dedicated to Kobe Bryant, whom Shaqir admired greatly. He currently plays basketball at TSU.
