Shareef O’Neal has taken a lot of criticism for his choice to play in the NBA despite only playing 37 career collegiate games with UCLA and LSU and averaging 2.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game on 40.5 percent shooting from the field for his college career.
The first bit of criticism O’Neal received was from his Hall-of-Famer dad, Shaq, who wasn’t a fan of Shareef leaving college early “at all.” and admitted that although he hadn’t spoken about his plans to play professionally with his dad since they’re both adults Shareef believes “we’ll get through it.”
“He didn’t like that idea at all,” O’Neal said. “It sucks that he didn’t like that idea, but I’m a grown man, I’m 22 years old, I can make my own decisions. It was right in front of my face. I’m not backing up from it. I’m going to go get it if I see it. That’s just how I’m built. I take everything the same way. I took my heart surgery the same way. Being cleared was right in front of me, being healthy was right in front of me, and I went for it. I’m not backing down from nobody. I know he’s an NBA legend; I know he’s my dad, but it was right in front of me; I had to go get it. So, if he likes it or not, it’s not really going to stop me from doing what I want to do.”
Fun Fact: Shaq wanted Shareef to stay in school and not workout with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/sCRbBmXM5u
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) June 21, 2022
The second bit of tough love O’Neal has had to deal with was from his father’s old teammate, Robert Horry. Big Shot Rob won three rings during his Lakers tenure as one of the most clutch shooters in franchise history. On a recent episode of his podcast, Horry said he wasn’t sure if O’Neal had what it takes to play in the League.
“I don’t know if he has that dog in him to go out there and take what he wants,” Horry said on The Big Shot Rob Podcast.
I know this outta love and no disrespect!!! I got you BIG SHOT🙏🏾 but you know who raised me , I don’t quit. Always been taught to go get it and take it . Been heading in the right step …like I said I got you! Youll see https://t.co/QmbciWH46c
— Shareef O’Neal (@SSJreef) August 3, 2022
Shareef O’Neal responded by saying Horry knew “who raised me” and that he was “taught to go get it and take it.” by the self-proclaimed most dominant player of all time. The younger O’Neal finished off his response to Horry by saying telling the seven-time champion, “I got you! You’ll see.”
O’Neal recently signed a deal to play with the G League Ignite, a developmental team that’s been the breeding ground for recent lottery picks like Jalen Green, Jonathon Kuminga, and Dyson Daniels. O’Neal averaged 4.0 points per game while he played for the Lakers’ Summer League team.
