Shaquille O’Neal’s Daughter Asks “If You Could Go Back, Would You Choose Basketball or Me?”—His Answer
Shaquille O’Neal adjusted his position in the plush studio chair, feeling at ease despite the glaring lights and cameras surrounding him. Interviews had long since become routine—another arena he conquered effortlessly. Vanessa Reeves, a seasoned sports journalist, posed thoughtful questions, gently guiding him through reflections on his storied career.
“Shaquille, if you could pinpoint one defining moment in your career, what would it be?” Vanessa asked, curiosity lighting her eyes.
Shaq smiled thoughtfully. “People expect the championships or dominant games, but my struggles early in life taught me the most. Those moments defined everything that followed.”
As the conversation flowed smoothly, Shaq noticed his daughter, Zara, standing just off-camera. At fourteen, she had grown into a fiercely intelligent young woman, quietly ambitious, distinctly herself. Today, she’d worn her Lakers jersey—a subtle nod he cherished.
Vanessa smiled warmly. “Shaq, we’re bringing Zara on for our last segment. Is that alright?”
Shaq glanced at Zara, whose surprise quickly turned to hesitant agreement. “Of course,” he nodded encouragingly.
Moments later, Zara took her seat beside him, her calm exterior masking a quiet determination. Vanessa gently asked about her experiences growing up as Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter.
“It’s normal to me,” Zara said quietly, “because he’s just Dad.”
Vanessa leaned in. “Zara, is there something you’ve always wanted to ask your father?”
Zara paused, her expression suddenly resolute. Turning directly to Shaq, her eyes locked onto his. “Dad, if you could go back and choose between basketball or me, which would it be?”
A stunned silence enveloped the studio. For the first time in countless interviews, Shaquille O’Neal was speechless, visibly shaken. His heart raced, thoughts scattering. The question wasn’t just difficult—it was devastatingly personal.
“I—I need a moment,” Shaq said softly, unclipping his microphone and walking off the set.
Zara, realizing the gravity of her question, slipped away to a quiet corner, heart pounding. She had held onto this question for years, afraid of the answer yet desperate to know. Shaq’s legendary career had always seemed larger than life, a towering shadow that often made her feel invisible.
In the quiet of the green room, Shaq reflected deeply. Basketball had given him everything—fame, wealth, legacy. But the cost had been high: missed birthdays, lost moments, a distance between him and the people he loved most. Zara’s question forced him to confront what he valued most deeply.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. Zara stood hesitantly in the doorway, her eyes uncertain. “Dad, I’m sorry,” she began.
Shaq gently beckoned her closer, enveloping her in a warm embrace. “Never apologize for asking the truth,” he whispered.
“I didn’t mean to ambush you,” Zara admitted quietly. “I’ve wondered about it for so long.”
Shaq held her gaze earnestly. “Basketball was my whole world, Zara. It defined me, gave me purpose, identity. But the day you were born, you changed everything. I never knew love could be bigger than championships until I held you.”
Zara’s eyes widened, searching for sincerity. “Then why did basketball still come first?”
Shaq sighed, deeply vulnerable. “Because basketball was easy—clear rules, predictable outcomes. Being a father terrified me. There’s no playbook for parenthood, no clear scoreboard. I was afraid I’d fail at the one thing that truly mattered.”
Before Zara could reply, Vanessa appeared, softly indicating they could resume if ready. Shaq squeezed Zara’s hand reassuringly. “Do you want me to answer this publicly?”
Zara considered carefully, then nodded. “I need to hear your truth.”
Returning to the set, Shaq sat down beside his daughter, addressing not just Zara but millions watching. “Basketball gave me everything, but at a tremendous cost. My greatest regret isn’t a missed shot or a lost game—it’s every moment I wasn’t there for my children. Zara’s question is the hardest I’ve ever faced because it exposes my greatest failing.”
He turned to Zara, his voice steady yet deeply emotional. “If you had asked me during my playing days, I would’ve chosen basketball without hesitation. Winning consumed me. But today, right now, knowing what truly lasts—it’s you, Zara. It will always be you.”
Zara felt tears welling, overwhelmed yet profoundly moved by her father’s honesty. She realized she had never doubted his love—just its priority.
The following days saw a shift in Shaq’s actions, not merely his words. He canceled business trips, attended Zara’s school events, and even collaborated on her oceanography projects. Every small gesture echoed his promise: Zara mattered above all.
One crisp evening, Shaq invited Zara to the basketball court behind their house, softly illuminated by strings of lights. They sat sipping hot chocolate, watching stars fill the sky.
“This court is where I’ve always made sense of things,” Shaq admitted quietly. “After your question, I realized I’d been playing the wrong game. My legacy isn’t trophies or records; it’s the strength and kindness you carry forward.”
He handed Zara a small box. Inside was a silver key engraved with ocean waves.
“What’s this?” Zara asked, astonished.
“A marine research facility,” Shaq explained warmly. “Next to our place in Florida. It’s yours to learn, explore, and grow. Basketball was my passion, but I want you to pursue yours.”
Zara’s eyes sparkled with gratitude. “Dad, thank you.”
Shaq smiled gently. “Thank you for asking the question I needed to hear.”
Under the soft glow of lights, father and daughter played basketball together, laughing, missing shots, no scores kept. Shaquille O’Neal, one of basketball’s greatest legends, was finally learning the most important lesson of all: the true measure of greatness wasn’t what he accomplished alone, but what he shared with those he loved.
Proud Shaquille O’Neal Presents Daughter Me’Arah with No. 24 Jersey for McDonald’s All-American Game
Me’Arah O’Neal will play in April’s highly-coveted high school game 35 years after her dad did in 1989
NBAonTNT/YouTube
Shaquille O’Neal Gifts His Daughter Me’Arah with Her McDonald’s All-American jersey
Shaquille O’Neal shared a special moment with his daughter, Me’Arah O’Neal, as she celebrated her selection to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game and commitment to the University of Florida.
During Thursday night’s episode of Inside the NBA, Shaquille, 51, and his TNT co-hosts invited Me’Arah, 17, to join them for a special segment.
“First of all, I want to say I’m so proud of you, and I love you,” Shaquille told his daughter as he handed her a bouquet of flowers when she joined the Inside crew on stage.
“And I wanted to present you with this,” he added before unveiling her No. 24 jersey for the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game, a highly coveted basketball game featuring a roster of the best high school players in the country.
Shaquille played in the game in 1989, while other previous McDonald’s All-American selected athletes include Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. Last year, LeBron’s son, Bronny James, knocked down five three-pointers in the 2023 game.
This year’s McDonald’s All-American Game will be held on April 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
During the TNT segment, Me’Arah shared what her reaction was to being selected. “I didn’t even have any thoughts, I just got up and ran. Once they said, ‘Me’Arah O’Neal,’ I was gone,” she quipped,
Jokes aside, Me’Arah said that “it means a lot” to her to be following in her father’s footsteps with the selection.
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Me’Arah O’Neal
In November, Me’Arah committed to the University of Florida, where she’ll play for the Florida Gators. During her interview on Inside the NBA, the 2024 All-American selection said she wanted to play for the Gators because of the team’s “amazing” coach, Kelly Rae Finley.
“She’s just amazing,” Me’Arah said, adding, “She’s invested in my character outside of basketball.”
Me’Arah told ESPN that a visit to Florida’s campus in September convinced her it was the right choice for her, rather than her father’s alma mater, LSU.
“I went on the Florida visit, and I had a feeling that’s where I belonged,” she told ESPN. “And that I was going to be most successful if I went to go play at Florida.”
Shaquille also spoke to ESPN at the time, explaining that he “tried to stay out of” his daughter’s decision on a university, even after calling her visit to LSU “one of the best moments” of his life.
“What I did tell her is, ‘Go where you’re needed, not where you’re wanted. Because if you go where you’re wanted and they got other people like you, may take a while.’ I want [my kids] to have their own journey, have their own experience,” Shaquille said.
