We all know Shaquille O’Neal to be a certified giant of the NBA. Both during and after his career, he has been a powerhouse. Standing at over 7 feet tall, he has had the height advantage over his opposition throughout his career. But did you know that at the tender age of 10, Shaq was already well past 6 feet tall? Additionally, the big man even convinced a rival’s parent that he was overage.

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50-year-old Shaquille O’Neal was once the Lakers’ go to man. Having been bought for a record sum, he justified his price tag and created history for the franchise, along with the likes of Kobe Bryant.

One of the primary reasons for the Buss family putting their trust in him was his build and physicality. Many years later, they can proudly say that it was one of the best moves in the franchise’s rich history. However, ‘Big Aristotle’ has faced multiple hurdles along the way.

Shaquille O’Neal was accused of lying about his age when he was 10-years-old

As mentioned earlier, Shaq was extremely tall since he was very young. According to all records, he was 6’4 at merely the age of 10. As improbable as it sounds, this is true. However, this was extremely hard to believe for the parents of fellow players of his age. In fact, one of his rivals’ parent thought Shaq was so good, that there was no way he was merely 10 years old.

As revealed in the video, the 15-time All-Star once made a startling revelation about his rival’s father raging at Shaq’s height. Characteristically, the man pulled his son out of the competition, as he opined that O’Neal was cheating everyone.

He apparently claimed, “He [Shaq] is not 10, bull sh*t. If he’s 10, he’s going to be the best big man in the world.” Many years later, there’s no denying that the man was right.

It’s quite unbelievable to think about the growth rate that Shaq had. A perfect mix of genetically blessed and talented, the 4-time NBA champion remains one of the best to have graced the game. And such stories prove why!

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