Basketball

Two beautiful women Shaquille O’Neal regrets hurting

by
Teresa Mwangi
June 29, 2023

Shaquille O'Neal with his ex-wife Shaunie. Photo/BET

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal looks back at his past life with regrets
Despite a $400 net worth, he carries certain regrets
O’Neal blundered so much when young and he now sees all that clearly

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal looks back at his past life with regrets on opportunities he says he missed despite stacking a $400 million net worth.

The retired Orlando Magic player enjoyed massive success on the floor and in his post-retirement life as a businessman, music artist and TV broadcaster.

However, his personal life came with certain drawbacks which impacted his financial standing.

O’Neal blundered so much that, at this point, he accepts responsibility for. Although he has grown out of it, he admits that it always pains him even to remember about it.

He profoundly regrets damaging his relationship with his ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal and former lover Arnetta Yardbourgh.

Speaking on Mo Talk podcast through Yahoo, Shaquille says that messing it up with two women pains him so much because each of them was perfect.

Shaquille O’Neal with Arnetta Yardbourgh who was his girlfriend for four years. Photo/AmoMama

“I had two perfect women, and I messed it up… We were all young, and I was just doing dumb stuff, but the good thing about our relationship is that they forgave me, and we have a good relationship now. But when you ask me about the perfect woman, I had two perfect women, and I messed it up just by, you know, being dumb,” he recalls.

He has six children from his union with Shaunie and Arnetta. Together with Shaunie, O’Neal has five children; Myles (his stepson), Amirah, Shareef, Me’arah and Shaqir. He then had Taahira with Arnetta.

He married Shaunie in December 2002 and lived together happily until years later when the world woke up to the news of their divorce in 2011.

Before marrying Shaunie, O’Neal spent four years; from 1992 through 1996 with Arnetta and had a daughter. Arnetta in explaining why they broke up said that the former Miami Heat player was a serial philanderer with multiple relationships.

Although nothing much is known about the reasons that led to his divorce from Shaunie, it is likely that his love for women played a part just like with Arnetta.

While O’Neal wasn’t the ideal spouse for his ex-girlfriend and wife, he made sure he was a good father. O’Neal often expresses how much his children mean to him and how he would do anything to care for and protect them.

He shows a great deal of interest in their lives and gives them the greatest support in their endeavours. The former NBA MVP takes up his parental responsibility seriously as a way to make up for his past errors.

Shaquille O’Neal. Photo/CNBC

The 51-year-old encourages his children to avoid making the same mistakes he made back in the day.

His greatest lesson in life is discovering through his mistakes that the role of a man is providence, protection and love.

“I tell my sons all the time a man has three jobs when it comes to a woman: protect, provide, and love,” he states adding that he guides them “even though I don’t have a relationship with the women that I let get away.”

The legendary NBA star is lucky that his one-time lovers forgave him and are currently on good terms with him. Their friendship makes him feel valued.

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Two beautiful women Shaquille O’Neal regrets hurting