In May 2017, I had the privilege of hosting Lucille O’Neal—the powerhouse mother of Shaquille O’Neal—for a special Mother’s Day edition of Scoop B Radio. At the time, she was reflecting on a life of resilience that took her from a young mother in Newark to the matriarch of a global sports dynasty. Today, in 2025—as the O’Neal legacy expands into the next generation of business and basketball—Lucille’s “buttoned-up” wisdom on the difference between “fame” and “legacy” remains the gold standard for sports families.
Reflecting on that dialogue today, Lucille didn’t just talk about Shaq’s rings; she spoke about the character she demanded from her children.
The Shareef O’Neal “Eye Test”: Talent Over Last Name
In 2017, the basketball world was buzzing about Shaq’s son, Shareef O’Neal, then a high-flying high school phenom. While the media was busy comparing his dunks to his father’s, Lucille provided a grandmother’s unique, grounded perspective on his talent.
“Watching Shareef grow has been a joy,” Lucille told me. “He has his father’s height and athleticism, but he has his own heart. He works hard because he wants to be great, not just because his name is O’Neal. I tell all my grandkids: the name might get you in the door, but your character keeps you there.”
In 2025, after Shareef’s well-documented journey through health scares and the G-League, Lucille’s emphasis on “heart” over “last name” feels prophetic. She saw early on that Shareef’s path wouldn’t be a carbon copy of Shaq’s, and she championed his individuality from the start.
The “Shaq” Blueprint: Raising a Giant
We couldn’t talk about Mother’s Day without discussing how she raised one of the most dominant and philanthropic figures in history. Lucille reflected on the days before the fame, emphasizing that her role was to ensure Shaq never grew too big for his roots.
“I didn’t raise a basketball player; I raised a man who happens to play basketball,” she remarked. “I’m proud of the championships, but I’m more proud when people tell me how kind he is or how much he gives back to the community. That’s the real legacy.”
Looking back from 2025, Shaq’s “Big Brother/Big Sister” initiatives and his “Shaq-a-Claus” programs are direct extensions of the values Lucille instilled. Her 2017 session on Scoop B Radio was a reminder that behind every “Superman” is a mother who taught him how to be human.
A Legacy of Education and Authorship
Lucille also spoke about her own evolution as an author and advocate for education, having gone back to school to earn her Master’s degree later in life. She viewed her own academic success as her most important “championship.”
“I wanted my children and grandchildren to see that it’s never too late to better yourself. You can’t tell them to value education if you aren’t willing to show them you value it too.”
2025 Retrospective: The O’Neal North Star
Today, Lucille O’Neal is celebrated as a premier motivational speaker and the ultimate “NBA Mom.” Her 2017 interview served as a bridge between the era of Shaq’s dominance and the era of her grandchildren’s emergence.
As Lucille told me:
“Motherhood doesn’t end when they turn 21. It just changes shape.”
In the age of 2025, where “player brands” are often managed by corporations, the O’Neal brand is still managed by the values Lucille set in place decades ago. She remains the undisputed MVP of the family.
