Shaquille O’Neal was such a fan of education that he ended up earning a Ph.D. after his retirement from the NBA.
Shaquille O’Neal has established himself as one of the biggest in the game. For more than 19 years, the 7-footer made his bread and butter by dominating the paint every night. At the end of his career, O’Neal was averaging a staggering 23.
7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game.
As one of the most assertive big men in league history, Shaq even retired with one of the most illustrious resumes in history: 15 All-Star appearances, 14 All-NBA selections, 3 All-Defensive selections, the 1993 ROY, the 2000 MVP, 2 scoring titles, 4 championships and 3 Finals MVP.
Now, The Big Diesel is exceptionally talented in numerous things. He was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, a savvy businessman with a net worth of over 0 million, and even an incredible analyst, among many other things.
One of his most incredible off-the-court accomplishments that is somehow not talked about enough is the fact that the NBA legend is also a graduate who holds a Ph.D.
“If you are an educated man, nothing can be taken from you”: Shaquille O’Neal
Clearly, education means a lot to Shaq. In a previous interview, Dr. O’Neal discussed the importance of education in an individual’s life. icon said:
“60% of professional athletes, once they finish, they have nothing… At that time, I was a lousy basketball player: 6’9″, the third time, I couldn’t play, I couldn’t shoot. It didn’t look good to me. So the only way I could probably go to college is to get an academic scholarship.
I don’t care what you do in life, if you’re an educated man, they can’t take anything away from you.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqB_cTyZeCw
This is not the first time O’Neal has emphasized the importance of education. In 2012, a few days before receiving his Ph.D. from Barry University, he revealed how his pursuit of education never ended, even after the conclusion of his distinguished career.
“This is for my mother, who always emphasized the importance of education,” O’Neal said. “I am proud to have obtained a Ph.D. and would like to thank my professors and Barry University for helping me make this dream come true. I am smart enough to know that even at my young age, my pursuit of education never ends.”
