After playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League, Shareef O’Neal, the son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, signs a contract with the G League team Ignite, they say sources at The Athletic.
Sources said O’Neal, 22, will sign a six-figure contract to play next season with the Ignite, where he can continue to develop his game and work toward a possible NBA career. O’Neal left LSU as a junior and entered the 2022 NBA Draft, going undrafted before committing to a summer league invite with the Lakers. In six summer league contests, O’Neal averaged 4.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 10.9 minutes per game. NBA teams were intrigued by O’Neal’s athleticism and pedigree throughout the pre-draft and summer league process. O’Neal has worked extensively with coach Justin Zormelo in his continued development as a pro prospect, helping O’Neal navigate his basketball career on and off the court.
O’Neal now gets a professional contract after open-heart surgery in December 2018 while at UCLA and foot injuries in 2020 and 2021, including a stress fracture, after transferring to LSU, the his father’s alma mater.
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