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Shaquille O'Neal is the embodiment of the myth of the gentle giant. Beyond his affable character and good humor, the former NBA star stands out for his charity work. However, not many know that behind all his charitable works there is a great source of inspiration: his mother, Lucille O'Neal.
There was a time when the Big Aristotle was a rotten apple. He himself its that in his adolescence he was a "high-level juvenile delinquent" who caused constant headaches for his mother. However, that changed little by little thanks to the efforts of Lucille and his stepfather Phillip Harrison, plus his dedication to sports.
His NBA success has given O'Neal the chance to make up for his past mistakes, and he has dedicated a good portion of his earnings to charity work, such as the "Shaq-a-Claus." At this annual event, the former center hands out toys, clothes, food, and gadgets to underprivileged children in Georgia, all to make his mother happy.
From juvenile delinquent to Santa's helper
In a recent chat on TMZ Live, O'Neal revealed the inspiration behind Shaq-a-Claus. "The only motivation is just to make her [Lucille] smile... I've done a lot, received a lot, own a lot," the Big Fella acknowledged.
However, he assured that his greatest reward "is when my mother says she's proud of me because there was a time in our life from 2 to 16, she was not proud of me." There is no doubt that the Lakers great is achieving his goal, as shown by the success of the most recent Shaq-a-Claus.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), O'Neal said, "Christmas, like a championship game, is all about teamwork-and our 23rd Annual Shaq-a-Claus event was another one for the books." However, the reward isn't personal: "Seeing their smiles is the ultimate win and reminds us why this tradition means so much," Shaq said.
Shaq's charity work
The former Orlando Magic star is a tireless charity worker. In addition to his Christmas event, he created the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation to help underprivileged children. He is also a spokesperson and sponsor for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
O'Neal's acts of generosity are almost legendary. From tipping a waitress $4,000 to giving a wedding ring to a stranger, it's clear the former NBA star knows how to spread the wealth. There's no doubt Lucille is proud of her little one.