Fresh ink alert! 19-year-old Shareef O'Neal—the big “Diesel” Shaquille O'Neal's son—has his father's iconic 2000 alley-oop celebration with the Los Angeles Lakers tattooed on his leg.
The pivotal dunk came from Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals Game 7 tilt with the Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000. Following the lob pass from Kobe Bryant and slam by O'Neal, Shaq proceeded to run towards the bench with his arms raised while pointing at his son.
Shaq pointed to his son Shareef after his famous alley-oop dunk in the 2000 WCF.
Now Shareef has it tattooed on his leg to honor the special moment 💯 (via @SSJreef) pic.twitter.com/H1Ryxa7JJ5
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 5, 2019
Shareef O'Neal is a 6-foot-11 power forward for the UCLA Bruins. O'Neal missed the 2018-19 NCAA season due to an issue with his heart. He would undergo heart surgery but announce in March of this year that he was cleared to play.
O'Neal and the Lakers would win the 2000 NBA Finals, with O'Neal crowned as Finals MVP, against the Indiana Pacers. O'Neal, tagged along with Kobe, would lead the Lakers to three consecutive Finals victories before departing Los Angeles on bad terms with Bryant and winning the 2006 title with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
The Lakers are hoping to create more magic and special memories at the Staples Center—which was inaugurated during that first 1999-00 season. Los Angeles has LeBron James leading an All-Star team that includes Anthony Davis, recently acquired via trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Lakers are currently courting two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, an unrestricted free agent and twice-voted Finals MVP, who recently won the title with the Toronto Raptors. Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers are heavily pursuing Leonard, too.
Shareef O'Neal was a four-star high school recruit, but maybe one day he can join his father in purple and gold.
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