Following in the footsteps of her father, Shaquille O'Neal, 19-year-old Me'Arah O'Neal is already making waves in the basketball world. In March, the Florida Gators Guard surpassed her father's SEC scoring best with a 22-point game as a freshman, and her journey has left Shaq emotional and full of praise for his rising star.

The moment came into light when "The Big" Podcast shared a clip on X, where O'Neal calls his daughter the best athlete in the family. When asked what person, place, or thing is skyrocketing lately and going to the moon, Shaquille O'Neal replied:

"My daughter. I'm going to give a shout-out to my baby, Me'Arah O'Neal."

Shar admitted he didn’t want her to play basketball at first, but her talent stood out. "I can remember mentally beating her up as a youngster as a test, training with the boys, and then she said, 'Daddy, can I play?' And I'd say, 'Nope, you're a girl.' And she'd go crazy," he recalled.

Now, Shaq believes she’s the best basketball player in their family, which also includes his sons, Shareef O'Neal and Shaqir O'Neal, along with himself.

"My baby is the best athlete in the family because she can do it all. She's not a old school player, she's this new pick-and-type player. So I'm going to go ahead and give her the title. She can shoot. She can dribble," he added.

For someone like Shaq, who built his legacy on power, watching his 6-foot-4 daughter, a forward/guard with a modern skill set, is a different kind of proud moment, especially as she heads to the Florida Gators women's basketball (University of Florida) after playing at Episcopal High School, Houston.

The retired Lakers legend then got vulnerable speaking about his daughter, adding:

"But I don't get emotional and cry a lot. But sometimes when I watch her play, I want to cry because I'm like, she's really good. So I'm happy for her."

Moreover, the pride isn’t just from Shaq, as her mother, Shaunie Henderson, is also one of her biggest supporters. She keeps hyping and celebrating Me'Arah's achievements on social media, and here's an example of the bond between the two:

"That’s my babygirl!!!! Another PROUD MOM MOMENT 😍@mearahoneal_ 🔥❤️ 🏀 🏆," wrote Henderson after Me'arah's NBA 2K card reveal.

While the spotlight on the 19-year-old continues to grow, it’s her grounded mindset that truly defines her journey.

Me’Arah O’Neal Stays Grounded Amid Rising Hype

During his 2016 Hall of Fame induction, Shaquille O'Neal said his daughter Me'Arah O'Neal would become the best ever. But at 10, she didn’t understand the hype or expectations.

“Growing up, I think it was a certain time in my life where I didn’t really understand it,” she said on Free Game, An TheSheGotGame Original.

That lack of pressure helped her grow naturally, and even as she faced higher expectations, she stayed humble.

"Just because I had the last name of an all-star hall of famer doesn’t mean anything... it doesn’t mean you’re better than anybody. I’ve never ever wanted to come off as like stuck up or just dismissive or like better than anybody," she further said.

In the summer of 2023, playing for Texas-based CyFair Elite on the AAU circuit, she averaged 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.8 minutes, while also becoming a target for trash talk because of her background.

That said, will Me’Arah thrive under the spotlight, or will expectations and pressure become her biggest challenge?

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Yask Kotak