*Shareef O’Neal, the son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, played for the G League Ignite team during the 2022-23 season. In the offseason, he signed with the Sacramento Kings but was later waived to join their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.
According to SI, the reason for him getting released is unclear. Sports reporter Sean Cunningham of FOX40 News posted on X on October 18: “Kings have announced they have waived Skal Labissiere in addition to Boogie Ellis, Terry Taylor and Brodric Thomas. Additionally, the team announced the signing of Shareef O’Neal, Drew Timme and Antoine Davis, who are all expected to join G League Stockton.”
Cunningham posted a short video of Shareef with the team, along with the caption: “Today’s glimpse into Kings practice in Sacramento shows Doug McDermott getting acclimated to his new team, Shareef O’Neal participating in practice and Skal Labissiere in practice before he was waived shortly after.” Watch via the X/Twitter clip below.
At 18, Shareef was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, a right anomalous coronary artery, which required life-saving open-heart surgery in December 2018. Although he made a full recovery, the surgery altered his basketball career.
“When I was going through the surgery, I never thought I’d make it to this moment,” the young athlete said about playing professionally, per The Observer. “But being a little older, I wake up thankful every day and appreciative for opportunities like this. I’m blessed to be able to wake up and have the chance to put on this jersey.”
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O’Neal played in 37 college games, playing for both the UCLA Bruins and the LSU Tigers, the latter being his father’s alma mater.
“I have to try and put that stuff in the past,” O’Neal told The OBSERVER. “It was definitely a point when I didn’t think I would make it this far, but now that I’m here, I’m going to do the best I can. It’s going to be a fun season, and I’m really excited.”
In a separate interview, Shareef recalled Shaq’s support during the health crisis, saying, “I was just waking up; they were teaching me how to walk again, and my dad was like, ‘If you come back from this, you’re the baddest man on the planet.’”
Today’s glimpse into Kings practice in Sacramento shows Doug McDermott getting acclimated to his new team, Shareef O’Neal participating in practice and Skal Labissiere in practice before he was waived shortly after. pic.twitter.com/KdC8hmHAqO
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) October 18, 2024
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