Former Laker Shaquille O’Neal to Receive Doctorate in Education

Now that Shaquille O’Neal has begun his career after basketball as an NBA analyst with TNT, the Big Aristotle has also continued his education. As one of the few professional athletes that actually continue to improve themselves educationally and financially, Shaq hasn’t let his large bank account make him content with his life as he strives to better himself in more ways than one.

According to Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk, Shaq will receive his doctorate in education from Miami Shores University:

“For 4 1/2 years, the former Miami Heat center took 16 courses, completed 54 credit hours and carried a grade point average of 3.813, according to the university. The 40-year-old’s exact degree is in Organizational Learning and Leadership, with a specialization in human resource development.

“He was a good student,” said Dr. David M. Kopp, chairman of the university’s Organizational Learning and Leadership program. “He is very intellectually curious. He is like a sponge, he takes everything in.”

This accomplishment by the former Los Angeles Lakers center is impressive to say the least. As if winning four NBA titles during his basketball career and becoming one of the most dominant forces the NBA had ever seen wasn’t a feat to be admired, Shaq just continues to raise the bar and might be able to have a successful career outside of basketball much like another Laker legend – Magic Johnson.

Whether or not Shaq ever uses the doctorate in education remains to be seen, but receiving this doctorate in education is an admirable feat that not many professional athletes of his caliber have the motivation to accomplish.