Shaquille O'Neal's Mother Once Used Michael Jordan To Inspire Her Son To Win First NBA Championship

Shaquille O'Neal's journey to success wasn't easy and even though he was part of very good teams, the Big Diesel had to wait for his chance to become an NBA champion. 

He had a big support from his mother, who never hesitated to motivate him, even in adversity. In his autobiography Shaq Uncut (via the Sports Rush), O'Neal once revealed that his mother Lucille used Michael Jordan's experience to inspire him. 

“Michael didn’t do it the first time. Michael didn’t do it the second time. Stay with the mission.” 

This happened after the Orlando Magic were swept by the Houston Rockets in the 1995 NBA Finals. O'Neal would admit that the result had a big impact on him, and he made a promise for the rest of his career. 

Lucille would motivate her son in 2000, asking Shaq to not let the external noise get in his head and just focus on his game. That year, O'Neal would win his first of four NBA championships. 

“Turn your ear off to the naysayers. Don’t let them crush you with their words. You have to change your way of thinking. You were the happiest, most positive little boy I’ve ever seen. Now draw from that positive thinking as a grown man.” 

Shaq and Kobe Bryant would add two more championships to their resumes, with O'Neal winning Finals MVP honors in each title. The journey wasn't easy but Shaq kept trying, and his mother was there, right by his side during the process. 

His tenure with the Orlando Magic was tumultuous but he never gave up, and when he landed in Los Angeles, things changed for him. 

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Shaquille O'Neal Won Four Championships During His Incredible NBA Career 

Even though his relationship with Kobe Bryant was anything but good, Shaq was incredible on the court with the Black Mamba. They won three consecutive NBA championships in four trips to the Finals. 

After O'Neal left the Lakers in 2004, he would win another championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat. This man was a beast on the court and there was no stopping him. The Lakers enjoyed his best years, as they became the last team to date to win three straight NBA championships. 

It's unclear how all these moments would have developed without his mom's advice, but it's fair to say that she and Michael Jordan played a role in Shaq's success. 

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