Have you ever wondered how tall Shaq is? What is the height of Shaquille O’Neal? Well, he has revealed it himself in the past.
There is a misconception that Shaquille O’Neal is over 7 feet tall. However, during an interview, Shaq shared that he is 6’11” tall.
Here is what Shaq said: “First, I’m not 7’1″. I’m 6’11”. I just played like I was 7’1″. And 7 foot 1 just sounded good?” he said.
Shaq Height in feet = 7′ 1″
Shaq Height in meters = 2.16 m
Shaq Height in cm = 216 cm
Shaq Height in mm = 2,160 mm
At over seven feet tall, Shaquille O’Neal was built for basketball. Although he may not be the tallest NBA player ever, his 7’1″ height is impressive. Shaq himself is happy to tower over most people. However, there is one part of his daily life when he wishes he was shorter.
The Inside the NBA host and former rapper stars in a new Pepsi ad. He wishes he was “a little bit smaller” to the tune of Skee-Lo’s 1995 song “I Wish.” Those lyrics have some truth.
| Name | Shaquille O’Neal |
| Shaq Height Height | 7′ 1″ |
| Shaquille O’Neal Age | 51 years |
| Shaquille O’Neal Famous For | NBA icon |
| Shaquille O’Neal Parents | Mother Lucille O’Neal and father Joseph Tone |
| Shaquille O’Neal Date of Birth | March 6, 1972 |
| Shaquille O’Neal Birth Country: | Newark, New Jersey, United States |
| Shaquille O’Neal Social Media | Instagram, Facebook, and twitter |
| Shaquille O’Neal Weight: | Approximately 325-pound (147 kg) |
| Shaquille O’Neal Siblings | Jamal O’Neal, Ayesha O’Neal, and Lateefah O’Neal |
| Shaquille O’Neal Nationality: | American |
| Shaquille O’Neal Marital Status | Shaquille O’Neal ( m. 2002; div. 2011) Keion Henderson ( m. 2022) |
| Profession: | |
| Kids/Children Name: | Shareef O’Neal, Shaqir O’Neal, Me’arah O’Neal, Myles B. O’Neal, Taahirah O’Neal, and Amirah O’Neal |
| Wife/Spouse Name: | Shaunie O’Neal |
Shaq explained to People magazine why he wants to be shorter sometimes. He recounted when he had to buy and modify two luxury cars to fit his large frame. “That’s the only time I’ve wished I was smaller,” he said, “so I can get into some of these expensive sports cars.”
At 7’1″, Shaq is not even close to the tallest NBA player ever. Many have been 7’2″ or more over the years. The league’s current tallest players are Kristaps Porziņģis, Bol Bol at 7’3″, and Victor Wembanyama and Boban Marjanović at 7’4″. Lets explore, How Tall Is Yao Ming?
Who is Shaquille O’Neal?
Shaquille O’Neal, commonly known as Shaq, is a legendary figure in basketball. He was born on March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey. Shaq quickly rose to fame and became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.
His impact on the game extended far beyond his sheer physical presence. With his size, strength, and agility, he revolutionized the center position. His ability to overpower opponents in the paint and score with thunderous dunks earned him the reputation as one of the most unstoppable forces in basketball history.
Throughout his 19-year NBA career, Shaq played for several teams. These included the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. He won four NBA championships – three with the Lakers and one with the Heat. Shaq was named the Finals MVP three times.
Off the court, Shaq’s larger-than-life personality made him a beloved figure in popular culture. He showcased his charisma through various ventures, including music, acting, and law enforcement. Shaq’s sense of humor and infectious smile endeared him to fans worldwide, making him an icon beyond just sports. Lets dive in How Tall Is LeBron James?
Speaks
In his everyday life, the “only time” he has ever wished he was of a shorter stature is “when it comes to driving sports cars,” O’Neal — who is 7′ 1″ — says with a laugh. “That’s the only time.”
Shaquille O’Neal
“They’ve got these Lamborghinis and Ferraris … [and] I used to have to buy two, shrimp them up, spend a crazy amount of money, and take the convertible part off to make myself fit,” he continues.
Shaquille O’Neal
“But that’s the only time I’ve wished I was smaller so I can get into some of these expensive sports cars,” adds O’Neal. “Other than that, I’ve never had that thought process.”
Shaquille O’Neal’s Son Compares Heights with NBA Legend Father
Charles Barkley was not the last person to accuse Shaquille O’Neal of being shorter than his listed height of 7’1″. Shaquille’s son, Shareef O’Neal, also questioned his father’s height earlier this year. Shareef currently plays for the NBA G League Ignite. He shared some now-deleted photos on Twitter showing himself standing next to Shaquille. In the accompanying tweet, Shareef stated that he and his father appeared to be the same height. Though he later removed the post, it again raised doubts about whether Shaquille is truly as tall as his basketball profile claims.
“Either I’m not 6’10 or he’s not 7’1”
O’Neal responded jokingly, stating:
“Secrets out, I’m 5’11”
Check out the back-and-forth between Shaquille O’Neal and his son below:
Cat's out the bag 😂
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 28, 2022
@SSJreef | @SHAQ pic.twitter.com/oZ6rUSwjmM
Shaquille O’Neal Siblings
Shaquille O’Neal has two sisters and one brother. His sister, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, played college basketball for the University of Pittsburgh.
His other sister, Lateefah O’Neal, was also a college basketball player. She played for the University of California, Riverside.
Shaquille’s younger brother Jamal O’Neal played college basketball, too. He played at the University of South Carolina. Still, he did not pursue a professional basketball career after graduating.
Shaquille O’NealO’neal Spouse
Shaunie Henderson (née Nelson, formerly O’Neal) was born on November 27, 1974. She is an American television personality and executive producer. Henderson works on several VH-1 reality TV series, including “Basketball Wives,” “Basketball Wives LA,” and “Baller Wives.” Previously, she was a film marketer. She was also formerly married to former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal.
Shaquille O’NealO’neal Children
Shaquille O’Neal has six children. He shares four children with his ex-wife, Shaunie O’Neal: two sons named Shareef and Shaqir and two daughters named Amirah and Me’arah. In addition, Shaquille has a stepson named Myles from Shaunie’s previous relationship. He also has a daughter named Taahirah with a former girlfriend named Arnetta Yardbourgh.
Taahirah O’Neal, 27
In 1996, Shaquille O’Neal welcomed a daughter named Taahirah with his former girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh. As shown on TNT’s Shaq Life, Taahirah graduated magna cum laude from Oglethorpe University in 2019. According to her LinkedIn profile, she works as a communications associate analyst for PepsiCo. Taahirah also serves as a part-time social media assistant at her dad Shaquille’s entertainment company, Mine O Mine.
Myles O’Neal, 26
Shaunie gave birth to her son Myles in 1997. He later took on Shaquille O’Neal’s last name. Myles is a musician and model familiar with the entertainment industry. He has appeared on TV and walked runways from a young age.
Myles was first seen on his mom’s “Basketball Wives” reality show in 2010. Three years later, he appeared again on his family’s “Shaunie’s Home Court” show.
When Myles was 21 years old, he made his fashion show debut. He walked in the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2018 runway show during Milan Fashion Week.
Shareef O’Neal, 23
Shareef O’Neal is a rising basketball star. However, that almost did not happen. When Shareef was 18 years old, just weeks before starting his first year playing basketball for UCLA, he discovered he had a congenital heart defect. This diagnosis required Shareef to undergo open-heart surgery.
In a “Now For Later” podcast interview, Shareef stated, “It was hard. At the time, I was ranked as the number 1 high school basketball player in California. When they told me about the heart defect, I honestly thought I would never be able to play basketball again.”
Luckily, the surgery was successful. Shareef went on to play basketball for UCLA and Louisiana State University. He ultimately left college early to pursue a professional basketball career.
Amirah O’Neal, 21
Shaquille O’Neal’s son Shaqir also has a passion for sports. As reported by ESPN, Shaqir stated in an interview with Overtime that he committed to play basketball for Texas Southern University (TSU) to “change the narrative” about historically Black colleges and universities.
In the same interview, Shaqir said, “You can expect a lot of buckets from me. I’m trying to get to the professional league.”
Me’arah O’Neal, 17
Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest child is his daughter Me’arah. She currently attends Episcopal High School. In July 2023, Me’arah shared photos on Instagram, marking the end of her time playing basketball for the CyFair Elite Sports team.
In the Instagram caption, Me’arah wrote: “It’s officially all over…real bittersweet man. I’m going to miss it. Words cannot explain how grateful I am…Cyfair, I love you, thank you…#13 out.”
The post expressed mixed emotions about ending her time with the CyFair basketball program she loved playing for.
Conclusion – Shaq Height
Shaq Height is 7 feet 1 inch tall and weighed over 300 pounds during his highly decorated 19-year NBA career. Using his massive size to overpower opponents, O’Neal was one of basketball’s most dominant big men ever. He led the league in scoring twice and field goal percentage ten times while playing for the Magic, Lakers, Heat, and more.
O’Neal reached the Finals four times, winning three championships in 2000, 2001, and 2006. His size made him an unstoppable force, leading the NBA in rebounds and blocks multiple seasons. After retiring in 2011 with 15 All-Star selections and many other accolades, Shaq was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In the end, Shaquille O’Neal’s great height and skills cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greatest players. Standing 7-foot-1, he used his massive frame to change the game of basketball forever.
FAQs
How tall was Shaq at 13?
At age 13, Shaq was 6’6″ tall.
How many kids does Shaq have?
Shaq has six children – 4 daughters (Taahirah, Amirah, Me’arah, and Taahirah) and two sons (Shareef and Shaqir).
What was Shaq’s career high?
Shaq’s career-high points per game was 29.7, which he averaged in the 1999-2000 season. His career high for total points in one game was 61.
