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Shaq’s Advice For His Son Shareef As His Pro Career Begins: “You Are Never Going To Be Me”

Shareef O’Neal, the son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, went undrafted in this year’s NBA Draft but he got to play for the Los Angeles Lakers’ summer league team where he averaged 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in about 11 minutes per game over six contests.

The 22-year old prospect has recently a signed a six-figure contract for the 2022-23 NBA season with the G-League Ignite, a developmental basketball team which once housed the likes of Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga.

Whether Shareef could end up being an NBA standout like those former G-League Ignite prospects is still up in the air. Ahead of the start of the new G-League season, his father Shaquille O’Neal was asked about what kind of advice he’s given Shareef on his path to the pros.

Per FTW:

“You are never going to be me. Don’t let people tell you that you’re me because you’re not. Your father is crazy. Your father is an idiot. Your father was a monster on the court. You’re not like that. Develop your game. Develop your style. It’s fortunate and unfortunate that you’ll have to live with that name. But create your own way.”