Shaquille O’Neal is not a perfect man by his own admission. Although the NBA legend is known for his greatness on and off the court, he knows the areas where he’s been wrong. Because of this, O’Neal firmly stands on the notion that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. So, when he was recently asked about his thoughts on Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka’s infidelities, Shaq decided not to pass judgment.
Shaquille O’Neal married Shaunie Nelson (now Henderson) from 2002 to 2009. Their marriage produced four children. Although beautiful at times, it was ultimately filled with turmoil and drama. Throughout their union, Shaquille O’Neal confessed that he was the problem. In his autobiography “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” the 4x NBA Championship holder explained that his cheating ways were due to him being “a guy with too many options.”
One of his noted extramarital affairs was with Karrine “Superhead” Steffans. The former video vixen, who wrote the controversial memoir “Confessions of a Video Vixen” in 2005, included stories of her affair with Shaquille O’Neal in her book. Additionally, she noted how “generous” he was to her during that time. Then, there was the now-sports analyst’s extramarital affair with a woman named Vanessa Lopez, which, unfortunately, brought him more drama than not. In 2010, Lopez claimed that she was Shaquille O’Neal’s secret lover for five years. She then filed a lawsuit against the former NBA star alleging bouts of harassment against her. However, according to TMZ, the suit was dismissed.
During another chaotic situation, Shaquille O’Neal’s name was brought up in an alleged kidnapping of a music producer named Robert Ross in 2011, who was reported to also have been friends with the basketball player. According to an ABC News report, Robert Ross claimed during his trial testimony that O’Neal would use his place of residence to bring his “sneaky links.” During the period that Ross speaks of, his marriage to Shaunie O’Neal was active.
It’s been years and many relationships since Shaquille O’Neal and the mother to four of his children divorced. However, he remains candid about the reasons that his marriage failed. During a recent visit to The Pivot Podcast, the Uncle Drew star praised his ex-wife for being the best and expressed that he majorly fumbled the bag. It is because of his actions that he was unable to walk through his front doors and be greeted by multiple members of his family in the traditional sense. “I can honestly say it was all me,” said Shaq.
These reasons mentioned above are why Shaquille O’Neal is reluctant to speak on Ime Udoka cheating on his fiancee, actress Nia Long, or even the news surrounding Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. While on The Big Podcast with Shaq, he admitted that speaking on it would not be wise as he was a “serial cheater.” Additionally, he shared it would be “blasphemous” to give his opinion as he can relate to much of what they’re going through.
