Shaquille O’Neal divorced: his marriage story, explained

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Shaquille O’Neal has had some turbulence and tumbling when he got married and divorced.

Although the basketball legend is widely loved for his personality and for some of his more entertaining purchases.

But he has also admitted to having made mistakes over the years.

Some of which led to his divorce.

Shaquille O’Neal participates in a semi-final game of Emirates NBA Cup in the T-Mobile Arena between Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks on December 14, 2024. (Photo Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Yes, Shaquille O’Neal has gotten married and divorced

On December 26, 2002, Shaquille O’Neal married Shaunie Nelson.

In addition to each having a child from a previous relationship, the two four children welcomed. Famous is Shareef O’Neal one of them.

However, the marriage was not to last.

Shaquille O'Neal on May 14, 2025.
Shaquille O’Neal participates in Warner Bros. Discovery’s 2025 Upfront Arrivals at the Theater in Madison Square Garden on May 14, 2025. (Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images to Warner Bros. Discovery)

In September 2007, Shaq requested divorce.

He would later withdraw divorce the petition back and explained that the couple was back together. It happens!

But in November 2009 it was Shaunie’s trip to archive. This signaled the true end of their marriage.

In 2011, the two ended their divorce.

Shaquille O'Neal on April 5, 2025.
Shaquille O’Neal participates in the Shaquille O’Neal Big Pod event in the home room San Antonio on April 5, 2025. (Photo Credit: Chris Sauckedo/Getty Images)

Why did the marriage end?

In his new book, Unbeated: Changing the rules and wins on my own termsShaunie dived into the downfall of her marriage to the basketball legend.

She shared that her ex -husband left Lakers (a basketball team in Los Angeles) and their family moving to Miami made it clear that something wasn’t right.

“I enjoyed the sweet early years of being a mother and raising my children,” she reflects.

“My days were always busy with children and family, and every now and then I got traveling or enjoying some of the NBA High Life.”

“But invisibly my marriage began to crumble,” Shaunie writes of where things fell apart with Shaquille O’Neal. “As I’ve written, it wasn’t obvious early.”

She explains with an analogy:

“Do you know how when you first get sick and the symptoms are so mild that you are not even sure you are sick?” It is a well -known concept.

“That’s how things were in the first years,” Shaunie characterizes.

“I was busy and happy and not noticing what was going on. But as the disease progressed, the symptoms became harder and harder to ignore.”

Shaquille O'Neal in front of a giant Superman -emblem.
On May 14, 2025, Shaquille O’Neal participated in WBD in advance, which included the new Superman movie. (Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images to Warner Bros. Discovery)

‘No one works so often’

“Take Shaquilles habit of” miss out, “Shaunie writes.” Our chef traded the whole grocery store. His leaders paid all the bills. I took care of the kids. ”

She asks, “So where did he go in the morning, during the day and at night? No one works so often.”

Shaunie grows even more directly:

“When we moved to Miami, I even heard a rumor that he had a condo in Miami Beach. I started to become suspicious, but he always had an answer and I could never prove anything. In the end, I was forced to admit that my family life was not as blissful or perfect as I would think.”

Shaquille O'Neal on February 7, 2025.
Shaquille O’Neal performs at Shaqs Fun House in Mardi Gras World on February 7, 2025. (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen/Getty Images)

From 2010 to 2012, Shaquille O’Neal was in a relationship with reality -tv personality Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander.

In early 2014, he began a relationship with model Laticia role. This romance lasted until March 2018.

Shaq is a legend who exceeds his sports career.

He could get married and divorced again in the future. Hopefully he will avoid repeating previous mistakes.

Shaquille O’Neal Divorced: His marriage story, explained, was originally published on the Hollywood slats.

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