“I promised my parents I’d do it, I promised myself I’d do it. It took eight years, it should have taken six or seven. I had some other engagements.” This was Shaquille O’Neal at the age of 28, graduating from LSU with his first degree. At the time, he already had a league title, a league MVP title, and a Finals MVP title. Yet, he proceeded to complete his education to complete the promise he had made to his mother. So, if at the peak of his powers, if he can pursue a degree, then why not now?
Big Diesel has a couple of degrees on his resume so far. Shaq received a B.A. degree in General Studies from LSU in 2000 and then earned an online MBA degree from the University of Phoenix in 2005. He also added an education degree (Ed. D) in Human Resource Development in 2012. Yet, in March last year, he made the announcement about pursuing another degree. “I will, in the next three years, be the foremost expert when it comes to sport psychology. So I read that, but I don’t want to act like it’s affirmative yet, because I don’t have the title behind it.”
Last year was the announcement, and this year he is already taking it seriously. But his motivation to add another degree is based on his personal story of distrust. “I’m working on my Master’s of liberal arts right now at uh LSU. I’m the type that if I don’t believe you, I find it difficult, and this is no disrespect to sports psychologists.” On the recent broadcast of the TODAY show, the 4x NBA icon revealed his reason for not trusting a sports psychologist to overcome his mental health concerns.
“I went to a sports psychologist one time cuz we know I’m a terrible free-throw shooter. And he was like, and his recommendations were ‘breathe’. I was like, ‘Breathe in Sacramento with his cowbells and breathe is not going to work.‘” Unable to recover from his charity strip shooting, as his record was a poor 52% from the free throw line, 5th worst for players with more than 1200 misses. So, Shaquille O’Neal felt a visit to the expert would help with the issue.
But allegedly, just breathing wasn’t going to solve the Big Aristotle’s problem. “I want to get the knowledge in my mind, in my weird mind. I want to be a sports psychologist, and I want to be the first sports psychologist that’s available on the academia side and available on the sport side.” But did you know, O’Neal already claims to have his 4th degree?
Shaquille O’Neal revealed the unusual fourth degree
Before we reveal that degree, let’s also give context that Shaq did study directing and cinematography at the New York Film Academy’s Filmmaking Conservatory. But that’s not his 4th degree. Last year, on JJ Redick’s Old Man and the Three podcast, the Lakers legend hilariously answered questions about his encounter of meeting a sports psychologist.
May 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Shaquille O’Neal before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in game three of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
“I don’t need a sports psychologist but I’m about to become a sports psychologist. I’m enrolling in school in the fall.” This was a few months after the initial announcement of pursuing the degree. So far, so good. However, when asked how many degrees he had, the Big Aristotle revealed all the ones he already possessed. “Four. Yes, this will be my fifth. Bachelors, Master’s, Doctorate, Street. Yeah, I have a street degree, and then I’m going to get one.” Street degree?
Yes, O’Neal claimed about earning a street degree. After all, his journey to the top of the NBA is filled with struggles, hard work, perseverance, and glorious results. So, even if he said that in jest about him having a street degree, let’s not question the authenticity of it.
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