When Shaquille O'Neal honored his stepdad with his Lakers jersey number: 'This one's for you, Sarge'

When Shaquille O'Neal joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1996 offseason, the then-24-year-old had to choose a jersey number for the new chapter in his NBA career.

Ultimately, "Diesel" chose No. 34, and this decision wasn't made randomly. In fact, it carried a deep meaning for the legendary big man, as it was the number his late stepfather, Phillip Harrison, had worn during his service in the army.

"If you're watching, this one's for you, Sarge," said O'Neal during a news conference in Atlanta at the time, according to the L.A. Times.

The story behind Shaq's early number switches

Shaq's choice of No. 34 with the Purple and Gold likely surprised many. In high school in Texas and during his college years with the LSU Tigers, he had worn No. 33—a tribute to his favorite player, Patrick Ewing.

After being drafted first overall in the 1992 NBA Draft, Shaq joined the Orlando Magic and initially hoped to continue that tradition. However, then-teammate Terry Catledge, who already wore No. 33, reportedly demanded $50k to give it up. Shaq didn't back down and ended up choosing No. 32.

Unfortunately, when he signed with the Lakers, the dominant big man could not return to his old number or his Magic one. Both 32 and 33 were retired in their respective honor of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, two franchise legends. So, with his stepdad in mind, O'Neal went for No. 34.

34 became a symbol of gratitude

Choosing 34 was a clear nod to Harrison, who served as a sergeant during his military days and passed away in 2013. Furthermore, it was a way for "Diesel" to say thank you.

Harrison often seemed on edge due to his military strictness while mentoring the young Shaq, yet he played a major role in shaping the future Hall of Famer, who later acknowledged this fact himself.

"If it weren't for him (Harrison), I'd be in prison right now because I was a wise guy, and I did the wrong things, and I was caught up with the wrong kids," explained the 2000 MVP.

Another instance when O'Neal, who grew up without his biological father, wholeheartedly acknowledged Harrison was in the 1994 track "Biological Didn't Bother," released on his second album, "Shaq Fu: The Return. " The NBA superstar unmistakably made it clear by rapping, "Phil is my father."

While wearing No. 34 in honor of his stepdad, "Diesel" went on to become one of the greatest players the Lakers franchise has ever seen, heavily contributing to their three-peat in the early 2000s.