Jul 10, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama sits courtside during the Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Exclusive: Shaquille O'Neal's Son Reveals Inspiration From Victor Wembanyama

Originally posted on San Antonio Spurs on SI
By Liam Willerup | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 7:18 PM ET

The San Antonio Spurs are one of the brightest young teams in the NBA, as while they have their fair share of veteran talents like De'Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson, they boast an impressive young core featuring the likes of Carter Bryant, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle. However, the reason this team's future is so bright is because of Victor Wembanyama.

There have been plenty of all-time great big men to play in the NBA, but nobody has a skillset and frame like Wembanyama. When asked about who he looks at in terms of big men for studying how they play, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal's son, Shareef O'Neal, told Spurs On SI why he looks toward Wembanyama in today's rapidly changing game.

Shareef O’Neal teased his own Shaq Raq PE pic.twitter.com/fZQVvRYiwS
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) July 7, 2025

"Wemby, even though he's a 7'5" guard. The game has changed a lot since my dad has played," Shareef shared. When asked to elaborate, Shareef shared that what he looks at is, "just his speed. I know it looks like he's moving slow, but to be that big and move that fast, is very impressive. His footwork is very impressive, just his skillset is something you don't really see."

Shareef went on to share that Shaq made sure he worked a lot on his ball-handling growing up, even though he stands at 6-foot-10. Given how the game has changed, being able to handle the ball at that height is a major bonus.

Victor Wembanyama with an UNREAL 5x5 night

25 Points
9 Rebounds
7 Assists
5 Steals
5 Blocks pic.twitter.com/hYXbfSWR4e
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 1, 2024

As for Shareef's career to this point, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sacramento Kings in October 2024, but was waived shortly thereafter. At just 25 years old, there's still plenty of opportunity ahead of him to carve out a professional basketball career in some capacity.

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This article first appeared on San Antonio Spurs on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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