NBA Great Shaquille O'Neal's Son Shaqir Leaving Florida A&M and Transferring Again

Shaqir O’Neal, the son of basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, has decided to take his talents elsewhere once again. The junior forward is leaving Florida A&M and has entered the NCAA transfer portal, signaling yet another shift in his college basketball journey.

During his time with the Florida A&M Rattlers, Shaqir averaged 6.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in the 2024-25 season, starting 17 of the 29 games he played. While these numbers might not be earth-shattering, they certainly show potential, especially for a player carrying the weight of a famous last name.

This marks the second transfer in Shaqir’s collegiate career. Before joining Florida A&M, he spent two seasons at Texas Southern, where he appeared in 41 games, starting only twice. A three-star recruit in high school, Shaqir has yet to fully break out on the court, but the determination to keep searching for the right fit is commendable.

The O'Neal family is practically royalty in the basketball world. Shaquille O’Neal himself is a four-time NBA champion and a 15-time All-Star, a legacy that casts a long shadow over his children. Shaqir’s older brother, Shaereef, played at UCLA and LSU before moving on to the NBA G League. Meanwhile, Me'Arah O’Neal, Shaq’s youngest, recently signed with the Florida Gators and has already made waves, scoring a career-high 19 points in a game against Arkansas during the 2024-25 season.

Shaqir’s decision to transfer again might raise eyebrows, but it’s a testament to his drive to find the right environment to grow as a player. After all, the road to greatness often takes a few twists and turns.