"Taught me to be mentally strong, never to complain and to not be a cry baby with everything at my disposal" - Shaquille O'Neal on the lessons he learned from his conversations with the late Bill Russell
Shaquille O'Neal was one of many NBA legends who paid tribute to the late Bill Russell. O'Neal showed his gratitude to Russell for paving the way for him and the rest of the league. The LA Lakers legend also revealed all the lessons he learned from the 11-time champion.
In an interview with Bryan Alexander of USA Today, O'Neal was asked about his relationship with Russell. The four-time champ explained that he knew the Boston Celtics legend was a great man, but did not understand the magnitude of his greatness until he had personal conversations with Russell.
"I grew up knowing Bill Russell was a great man," O'Neal said. "But I didn't know until I talked to him how great. He couldn't stay in the same hotels as his (white) teammates, people would write him harsh words. Back then, he never made the kind of money I make, but never complained."
"These conversations taught me to be mentally strong, never to complain and to not be a cry baby with everything at my disposal."
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O'Neal also spoke about the time he failed to buy Russell's memorabilia at an auction. Russell put up two of his championship rings, as well as his Hall of Fame ring, among others, for sale last year.
O'Neal vowed to buy them all, but came up short because he did not want to go through the whole process of making bids.
"No, I was too late. I didn't want to go through the auction process," O'Neal said. "I wanted to find out who was in charge and make an offer you can't refuse and buy everything. But they kept making me go through this auction process and by the time the (auction catalog) came, and I picked my item numbers it was a day too late."
Shaquille O'Neal recently shared the lessons he learned from "The Sarge"
"The Sarge" Philip Harrison was one of the most important people in the life of Shaquille O'Neal. Harrison was O'Neal's stepfather who helped him throughout his NBA career and well into his retirement.
On a recent episode of "The Big Podcast," O'Neal revealed that Harrison taught him how to be grateful and humble after complaining about pressure. After the former MVP revealed that he felt the pressure of playing in New York, his father took him to a homeless family to show him what real pressure felt like.
"My father, one day after a game I went home and I said, 'Hey man, I couldn't handle the pressure in New York,'" O'Neal said. "He was upset, takes me in the car early next morning and we watch a homeless family. Family that he used to take care of.
"He said, 'I don't ever want to hear you say you can't handle the pressure again. You spoiled MF brat, you got a big house, you got cars, you fly private, I don't want to hear that. Pressure is when you don't know where your next meal is coming from.'"