Shaquille O'Neal Recalls Paying For Laptops For A Mom's Children For School — 'It Could Be Worse And That Could Be You'

Whether it’s family or people in his circle, the NBA legend is known for spreading his wealth to others.

As previously shared by AfroTech, O’Neal put his parents on a salary after being drafted into the league. 

Check out the full story here.

What’s more, he once paid for 15 of his friends to get their master’s degrees.

During a 2020 interview, O’Neal shared a story that displays how he’s not opposed to showing acts of kindness to strangers either.

In a sit-down with “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast with Wallo267 and Gillie Da Kid, O’Neal shared that he’s built a practice of going to stores on a search for mothers who may need financial support.

During one of his quests, he came across a woman in Best Buy, who didn’t have enough funds at the time to purchase laptops for her children. Knowing how vital the technology was for the kids, especially for their education — it instantly moved him.

“She owed like $1,100 and I heard her say, ‘Okay Imma bring $300 this week,'” O’Neal recalled. “And she grabbed one of her babies and said, ‘I’m gonna get the laptops in two weeks, baby.’”

He continued, “And I said, ‘I got you.’ She’s like, ‘You don’t have to do that.’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, I do because my mama told me to do it.’”

Being cognizant of what others in the world may be going through is what pushes O’Neal to oftentimes pay it forward, thanks to the career he’s been fortunate enough to build for himself.

“My motto lately has been, it could be worse and that could be you,” he said. “$1,500 ain’t nothing to me but a mom trying to help her babies go to school. I’m standing right there. Do it.”