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Shaquille O'Neal grew up in Newark, New Jersey, which was widely regarded as one of the worst places in the United States. Drugs, gun violence and gangs made up a huge part of the issues in the city, which ranked on the 'top 10 most violent city list' for 50 consecutive years.
For many reasons, only a few get to make it out as Shaquille O'Neal did. One among them is a lack of motivation and inspiration. Luckily, Shaq remembered the advice his stepfather Phillip Harrison gave him growing up.
During his playing days, Shaq revealed Harrison's influence on his life and said:
"The term stepfather, I don't really use. I use father. He's the guy who made me who I am. I'm in a big old house because of that man. I'm still relevant five years after playing because of that man.
"Growing up in a military household, you have to be big on respect, and I respect him. I respect a man that walks into a city hall, meets a lady, the lady has a son, he says, 'So what?' He takes the lady and his son and brings in his two daughters, and they have a family and they raise a family.
"I respect the man that says, 'You know what, I've got three kids and this army job is not paying enough let me go do some side jobs to get some money.' I respect the guy that says, 'You know what, I got to get my family out of Newark, the drugs are bad, guys are starting to shoot and kill, let's move to Georgia, let's get a house, let's get a life.'"
Shaquille O'Neal keeps contributing to his hometown
While Harrison might have influenced Shaquille O'Neal to get out of Newark, make it to the NBA and live a different life, many youths in NJ's largest city still need guidance. When living in Newark, it's easy to get trapped in what you're around on a daily basis.
Knowing how tough it can get growing up in the city, Shaquille O'Neal still goes back and tries to help the local youth. In June 2022, the former LA Lakers big man threw open a community basketball court on Hawthorne Avenue and addressed the youth gathered there:
“I have the answers to all the tests, and I’ll give you all the information,” O’Neal told the Newark youths. “First thing you need to do is listen. Listen to your parents. Listen to your teachers. Second thing you need to do is believe - follow your dreams. You’re going to have a lot of trials and tribulations, but we’re from Newark. We ain’t soft. We can do anything.”
Shaquille O'Neal's philanthropic foundation, the Shaq Foundation, headed the project aimed at addressing the inequalities children from low-income households face in the city. The court was aptly named the "Comebaq Court."
Shaq told the youth at the court's launch:
"This court is for you guys. You guys can come out here and follow your dreams and take it from me, you can be whatever you want to be."
Revealing his own struggles with making it out of Newark, the Brick City native added:
"I’m you. I’m not the guy that was the smartest in school. I’m not the guy that was the most popular. I’m you. We come from the same place… Hopefully, we can find the next Kobe, Lebron, Steph Curry right here on this court."
Shaquille O'Neal has always been vocal about his struggles growing up and understands the value guidance and good mentors can have on a Newark kid hoping to make it to the NBA someday.
