I'm Shareef, Not Shaq's Son || Shareef O'Neal on Surviving Heart Surgery, Being His Own Person & Chasing His NBA Dream Now For Later with Eric Mika

Join host Eric Mika as he sits down with Shareef O'Neal, a rising star in professional basketball. At the age of 18, Shareef faced a life-changing open-heart surgery that saved his life but left him uncertain about his future in basketball. Undeterred, he embarked on a remarkable path of recovery, relearning to walk, and rediscovering his confidence to prove that he can conquer any challenge.In this candid conversation, Shareef delves into what it was like growing up with the legendary Shaquille O'Neal as his father and the weight of expectations and comparisons that accompanied his pursuit of a basketball career and how he's become more than 'Shaq's son'.

Timestamps:

[2:15] Shareef's Childhood & Figuring Out Who Liked Him For Him
[5:01] How Shareef Responds When Someone Says 'Shaq's Son'
[7:33] Finding Basketball At A Young Age
[12:10] Shareef's Open Heart Surgery
[27:15] Going Pro After College & Surgery Recovery
[33:25] His NBA Pursuits & Getting Serious
[42:15] How to Develop Yourself Off The Court

Connect with ShareefIG: @shareefoneal
TikTok: @ssjreef

Things Referenced in the Show

Shareef's Open Heart Surgery Playlist
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vj2JZnHdnfYcCdXisVYtoD-grZLJMbFj/view?usp=sharing

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