For Shaquille O’Neal, few opponents ever inspired fear during his Hall of Fame NBA career. But nothing compared to watching his son, Shareef O’Neal, undergo open-heart surgery at just 18 years old. Years later, Shareef is opening up about that life-altering experience – and how it reshaped both his career and his mindset.
In a candid appearance on WNBA star Angel Reese’s podcast Unapologetically Angel, Shareef reflected on the frightening health scare that temporarily halted his basketball dreams.
Shareef O’Neal Reflects on heart surgery at UCLA
Shareef was diagnosed with anomalous right coronary artery shortly after beginning his college career at UCLA in 2018. What was supposed to be the start of his rise as a Division I athlete quickly became a medical crisis.
No, it was a crazy situation at UCLA… I was out for like a year and a few months. I went from like 220 lbs to like 170… It was pretty crazy.
He credited UCLA’s medical staff – particularly a trainer named Shane – for identifying the congenital heart defect that had gone undetected throughout his childhood.
I’m glad I was able to be at a school that took that much time to find out what was going on with me. I was getting cleared basically my whole life by all these doctors to play basketball and I wasn’t supposed to be.
Shareef admitted that symptoms had appeared as early as his teenage years, but they were never fully investigated. After the diagnosis, he wore a heart monitor – something he initially tried to hide – before undergoing surgery in December 2018.
The recovery process was daunting. He revealed that he had to relearn basic movements after the procedure.
“That was pretty scary,” Shareef admitted, describing the rehabilitation period that followed.
Despite the setback, he returned to the court, later playing in the G-League and even pursuing NBA opportunities.
Clashing ambitions with Shaquille O’Neal
Shareef’s determination to continue playing basketball didn’t always align with his father’s wishes. Shaquille O’Neal, protective after the surgery, reportedly opposed some of his son’s professional ambitions – including entering the 2022 NBA Draft.
After being waived by the Sacramento Kings, Shareef pivoted toward a new path within the O’Neal business empire. He now serves as a Creative Strategist for Reebok, helping bridge the brand to a younger generation of athletes.
Shaq acknowledged the transition with humor and pride, saying, “My son is taking over now because my s- was kind of old.”
Shareef has played a key role in modern sneaker designs, including collaborations tied to rising stars like Angel Reese. Still, basketball remains close to his heart.
I just wanted to play just for my own self. I feel like just to make my 18-year-old self proud.
While his heart condition altered his original trajectory, Shareef O’Neal has turned a frightening chapter into a story of resilience – balancing competitive ambition with leadership in his father’s expanding legacy.
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