Shaquille O’Neal had a strained relationship with his biological father, Joseph Toney. Toney’s struggles with drug addiction and criminal activities led to his imprisonment for six years, during which time Shaq was raised by his stepfather, Phillip Harrison, an Army drill sergeant who played a significant role in shaping Shaq’s life and career.
In 1994, Toney appeared on the television show “The Ricki Lake Show” and pleaded for reconciliation with his son. Shaq initially did not accept the reconciliation and was even “annoyed” by the gesture his biological father made on a TV show with an audience.
“I was upset because you put people in my business,” O’Neal said in an interview with TIME, recalling the event. “This was a family secret.”
However, he eventually softened up and connected to Toney, and formed a relationship that Shaq described as “respectable.” One reason he also cited was it was a time when he, too, was facing family troubles, and related to what his biological father faced back then.
“He lost his family by doing what he did,” says O’Neal. “I did the same sh**. His was drugs and mine was all your other crazy superstar stuff. I was at that point to where I’m not going to be a hypocrite. ‘Oh, you’re the deadbeat dad,’ when I just did the same thing. Six kids. Gone. Gone. So I told him, ‘Man, I don’t hate you. We don’t need to talk about it. I know the story. I don’t care.’ And we talk every now and then. He’s good.”
Shaquille O’Neal Talks About Being Raised by Stepfather
Shaquille O’Neal‘s relationship with his stepfather, Army Sergeant Phillip Harrison, was a defining aspect of his life and career. Harrison, who raised O’Neal from a young age, was known for his tough love and strict discipline. Shaq recalled that some people might view Harrison’s treatment as harsh, but he believes it was necessary for his development.
“I got corporally punished. I won’t do that with my children. But it worked for me,” O’Neal said.
Harrison also played a crucial role in pushing Shaq to excel in basketball. One memorable lesson involved Harrison throwing a ball at Shaq’s face to teach him not to be scared of the ball.
“The point he was trying to make was don’t be scared of the ball,” he recounted.
Even after Shaq achieved success in college and the NBA, Harrison continued to show tough love. When Shaq bought him a Mercedes, Harrison’s reaction was simply: “OK, thank you, see you later.”
“No smile. He never did any of that”
Shaquille O’Neal, throughout his NBA career, has had four championships, has been a three-time Finals MVP, and a 15-time NBA All-Star.
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