NBA: Shaq refuses Kobe’s offer to mentor son

Shaquille O’Neal (L) and ex-team mate Kobe Bryant. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON

Shaquille O’Neal’s eldest old son, Shareef, looks to be destined to play in the NBA and is already considered as one of the top-tier prospects to join the 2018 draft.

To to be able to maximize his potential and reach the pros, the 16-year-old high school prodigy must be guided accordingly and learn invaluable lessons from the best.

The teenager proved quite lucky, as one of the greatest players to ever play, Kobe Bryant, generously offered to help Shareef out and show him the ropes.

However, his towering father does not seem too thrilled with the idea of his former team mate possibly training his son.

“(Shareef) don’t need to (train with Bryant),” the 44-year-old Hall of Famer told CBS Sports. “He’s really good.  Way better than I was at his age. (Shareef) has a lot of colleges looking at him and I am very, very proud of him.”

The recently retired Bryant worked out with notable NBA All-stars this off season, including Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook—whom are enjoying monstrous starts this year.

Still, Shaq said it’s nothing personal and that he “doesn’t hate” Kobe, but it seems that their long-standing feud may have factored into his decision.

READ: Shaq on fall-out with Kobe: There can’t be 2 kings

ESPN, meanwhile, ranked Shareef as the the No. 18 player in the draft class of 2018 and has already expressed interest attending Louisiana State University (LSU), Arizona, UCLA and Georgetown.

But if Shaq had his way, he would prefer his son to join Kentucky, Michigan State or his alma mater LSU,  as he believes all three programs have coaches capable of taking him to the next level.  Khristian Ibarrola