While the public lauded him for his basketball skills, O’Neal’s parents continued to ask what he would do if his career abruptly ended. “I would bring home a lot of money and all that, but I would look on my favorite person’s face, and she would put her hand on my shoulder and say, ‘Baby, you promised to go back to school,’” O’Neal said. “And I’m like, ‘I’m shooting a movie called Kazaam.’” “I saw that movie,” his mom responded. “You need to take your ass back to school.’”