Former NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal has revealed that he was on the verge of committing to Kentucky before legendary Wildcats head coach Rick Pitino gave him advice that ultimately changed the course of his basketball career.
Appearing on the Str8 to Da League podcast, O’Neal reflected on his recruitment following Kentucky’s 1996 national championship season. He said the Wildcats were his top choice, and Pitino made several visits to his family’s home in an effort to recruit him.
O’Neal recalled that his mother developed a strong admiration for Pitino during the recruiting process, making the decision even more meaningful.
Despite wanting O’Neal in Lexington, Pitino took an honest approach. Knowing the challenges O’Neal and his family were facing, the Kentucky coach encouraged him to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the NBA Draft instead of spending time in college.
According to O’Neal, Pitino explained that Kentucky would be successful with or without him, but believed turning professional was the best decision for his future. That level of honesty left a lasting impression and convinced O’Neal that declaring for the draft was the right move.
The decision paid off. O’Neal was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and went on to enjoy an outstanding 18-year NBA career. During that span, he earned six NBA All-Star selections, three All-NBA Team honors, and finished with career averages of 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds while appearing in more than 1,000 games.
Although Kentucky fans can only wonder how dominant the Wildcats might have been with O’Neal in the lineup, his story serves as another reminder of Rick Pitino’s willingness to prioritize a player’s long-term future over winning a recruiting battle.
