Shaunie Henderson and Shaquille O’Neal’s divorce was finalized in 2011. It was a tumultuous affair with hints of trouble dating back several years. Now, Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife Shaunie Henderson opens up about her troubled marriage with the NBA veteran in her new tell-all memoir “Undefeated.”
In the book, Shaunie Henderson talks about her early years of motherhood and family life, enjoying time with her children, and the perks of being married to NBA star Shaquille O’Neal. However, she admits that behind the scenes, their marriage was starting to fall apart. At first, the signs were subtle, like being mildly sick where you don’t realize how sick you are.
One of the signs was Shaq’s frequent absences, even though she managed their household while he was away. She became suspicious, hearing rumors about him having a condo in Miami Beach, but Shaq always had explanations that she couldn’t prove wrong. Eventually, she had to face the reality that her family life wasn’t as perfect as she thought.
Reflecting on their relationship, Shaunie admits that maybe she wasn’t truly in love with Shaq himself, but with the idea of being married to him and building a life together. She enjoyed spending time with him, especially during NBA road trips. She acknowledges that Shaq tried to balance being a famous athlete with being a husband and father, surrounded by constant attention and temptation from others.
Shaq met Shaunie Nelson (her maiden name) in the late 1990s after joining the Los Angeles Lakers. They married in a secret ceremony in December 2002. The couple had four children together: sons Shareef and Shaqir, daughters Amirah and Me’arah. Shaunie also raised Myles, her son from a previous relationship, whom Shaq adopted.
Tensions arose around 2004 when Shaq transferred to the Miami Heat. In 2007, Shaq surprisingly filed for divorce in Miami, admitting he hadn’t been a good husband. However, the couple reconciled a year later, seemingly calling off the divorce.
In 2009, Shaunie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Rumors swirled about Shaq’s infidelity, which Shaunie later confirmed on “Basketball Wives.” Shaunie reportedly discovered incriminating texts on a misplaced Blackberry, exposing affairs with other women.
Shaq has taken full blame for the marriage’s demise. He publicly acknowledged being a “bad” husband and expressed his regret. Shaunie, on the other hand, has portrayed herself as a loyal spouse who prioritized their family.
Their divorce was finalized in 2011 with Shaunie receiving a substantial settlement, including three houses valued at roughly $33 million. Both have moved on. Shaunie married pastor Keion Henderson in 2022, and Shaq continues his bachelor life. Despite the rocky past, Shaq expressed well wishes for Shaunie’s new marriage.
In a June 2023 interview on Monica’s Apple Music Hits “Mo Talk Radio” show, Shaquille O’Neal took responsibility for the end of his marriage to Shaunie.
“Shaunie was also a perfect woman and I messed it up,” O’Neal said.
