Once considered a top-50 prospect, Shareef’s career took a significant bump when he had to undergo heart surgery and sit out his entire freshman year at UCLA. He later transferred to LSU but suffered multiple foot injuries, all but hampering his development even further.

Even so, the 22-year-old declared for the NBA Draft, but to no avail. He then tried to showcase his talents with the Lakers’ Summer League teambut he barely played at all. Now, he’s signed with the G-League Ignite hoping, to one day fulfill his NBA dream.

Byron Scott Says Shareef O’Neal Wasn’t Ready For The NBA

O’Neal missed plenty of time in college and it showed when he was on the hardwood. That’s why Byron Scott, a Lakers legend and one of his old man’s teammates, wasn’t surprised to see him miss the cut:

(Transcript via Fadeaway World)

“I think he looked a little bit out of place. He wasn’t ready. I think he still has a little ways to go. I think the talent is there. Obviously, the athleticism is there. It’s just some other things he has to kind of tweak.”

When asked if he felt Shareef could still bounce back from that heart surgery, Scott stated, “I think it is possible and when you’re talking about surgery to the heart, that’s a big deal. That’s not something you’re gonna come back within a year and be your old self again and he probably has questions about his physical being, especially his heart. I think that’s unfair if people are criticizing that, that’s really unfair… and he’s still young so give him a chance.”

Shaq Didn’t Want His Son To Enter The NBA Draft

It’s not a secret that Shaq didn’t want Shareef to go through the process right now. TheBig Dieselthought his son wasn’t ready to make the league at this point, yet Shareef was eager to prove everybody wrong:

“He wanted me to stay in school. I wanted to better myself through this,” Shareef said.“It sucks that he didn’t like that idea, but I’m a grown man, I’m 22 years old, I can make my own decisions. It was right in front of my face. I’m not backing up from it. I’m going to go get it if I see it.That’s just how I’m built. I take everything the same way. I took my heart surgery the same way. Being cleared was right in front of me, being healthy was right in front of me, and I went for it.”

Shareef has been through a lot, health-wise, and he’s bounced back every time. He may never be as good as his father, but he’s still young and has plenty of time to make the league somewhere down the line.

The son of Shaquille O’Neal is among the prospects that come fromtheLSU Tigers men’s basketball team. Shareef O’Neal will try to make his way through the draft, despite many expertslisted him out of the event. In fact, he has overcome bigger obstacles in his life, like his heart condition.

Although, being the son of an NBA legend may have leverage in his favor, its also against him. Clearly, Shareef will not be his father, as simple as that. Despite both may have similiar height, Shareef has a different set of skills. But the question remains, is that enough to get drafted?

Will Shareef O’Neal get drafted?

Despite his college background, Shareef hasn’t done anything above average to getinto the NBA. The 22-year oldforward has an average of 3 pointsand 2 rebounds per game in 9 minutes of play. This numbers clearly don’t make the cut for a first-round pick.

However, earlierthis monthShareef O’Nealtrained with the Los Angeles Lakersahead of the 2022 NBA Draft. These lasttrainnings could help him to land in as asecond-round pick, but he is almost likely to not be drafted in this year’s event at the Barclays Center.

As a matter of fact, this players might have to work as twice as much as other players. Checking out the facts, on seven occasions in the last 35 years,a player whose father was also drafted into the NBA was selected among the top-five picks. However, only four of those seven players went on to become All-Stars.

However, in sports there aren’t guarantees of anything. Even prospects with the greatest family backgrounds have suffered injuries or problems of some sort that ends up in an NBAcareer that couldn’t keep up with the father’s legacy.

Shaq’s, Pippen’s and more NBA heirs to be selected

For example, Shareef O’Neal doesn’t have thefather’s physique and athleticism. Shaq was explosive in the paint thanks to his huge physique, while his son’s more reliable asset is his rebound skills. Because the only thing to be compared to his father is his bad free-throw percentage, which was 47% in the last season with LSU.So, he might not even get drafted.

Whereas Scotty Pipen Jr, son of the great Scottie Pippen, has more chances to make it. Pippen Jr is a 6-foot-3 tall with an average of 20 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game in the last 2021-22 NCAA season playing for Vanderbilt.

Finally, Ron Harper Jr who may be the best prospect among the three presented in this article. The son of the former Chicago Bulls player has an average of 15 points and6 rebounds with a 40% in three-point shots made in the last season with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Full list of prospect players with NBA inheritance in the 2022 NBA Draft

It is important to note that none of this players set to be selected among the top 10 picks overall in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thrusday. However, all of them might have one of their last chances to make a move to the NBA to continue with their father’s legacy.