Lakers News: Shaquille O'Neal Reflects On Daughter's Decision To Hoop For College Nemesis

The rivalry will make for some fun in the O'Neal household.

Former Los Angeles Lakers All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal has been a lot of things during his life, but he has always loved the game of basketball. He has lived and breathed it since he was young, and it turned into a Hall of Fame career.

His journey began long before he hit the NBA or even his college days. But O’Neal was a force to be dealt with during his time at Louisiana State University. 

He has supported the Tigers program since he went to school there, and it has been awesome to see. Recently, his youngest daughter Me’Arah O’Neal had to make her decision about where to play her college basketball, and unfortunately for O’Neal, she didn’t pick the Tigers. 

Instead, she decided to take her talents to the University of Florida, a direct rival of Shaq's alma matter, LSU. O’Neal opened up on the decision for her to go play at Florida.

“I’m happy. I’ve never been the parent to be like, follow your father’s footsteps. I try to convince them that the pressure that they’re gonna get because of my last name doesn’t really exist. I try to teach them that pressure’s when you don’t know where your next meal’s coming from. It’s their job to be kids, educate themselves and have fun. I’m more happy that she got a scholarship to a great university like the University of Florida and in four years if things are done correctly she’ll have her bachelor’s degree. That’s what I’m more excited about.”

Per Chuck Schilken of The Los Angeles Times

O’Neal wasn’t bitter about the decision and instead was just happy that his daughter was going where she wanted to go. He is a parent at the end of the day, and her happiness is all that matters.

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