“I try not to disturb them” (Exclusive)

O’Neal’s youngest daughter, Me’Arah, recently made her college debut with the Florida Gators, while his son Shaqir plays for the Florida A&M Rattlers.

Shaquille O’Neal says he makes his kids nervous when he watches their basketball games.

The former NBA star, 52, exclusively told PEOPLE that while he’s “very proud” of his six kids, he tries “not to bother them,” especially when they’re on the court basketball.

Me’Arah O’Neal, 18 – who made her college debut with the University of Florida Gators earlier this month – had seven points, five rebounds and two blocks in her first game on Monday November 4.

That same evening, Shaq sat courtside to watch his son Shaqir’s debut with the Florida A&M Rattlers, who opened the season at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.

Shaqir O’Neal, 21, who played the last three seasons at Texas Southern, is averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds for the Rattlers so far this year.

“A lot of times when I watch them play, they get nervous,” says the 7-foot-1 Hall of Famer. “I never want to make them nervous, so I just try to watch from afar.”

On the same subject: Everything you need to know about Shaquille O’Neal’s family (he has 6 children)

Instead, O’Neal tells PEOPLE that he’s trying to “participate in deja vu parenting,” explaining that his parents took the same approach when raising him.

“My mother and father never really bothered me. They raised me in a particular way, and then they told me: ‘You’re 18, you’re an adult.’ “

O’Neal — who announced his partnership with DraftKings this month — says he applies the same technique, “and it works.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

However, the Inside the NBA The analyst can’t help but brag about Me’Arah.

“My little girl, she scored 18 points yesterday,” he said, referring to the Gators’ 104-35 massacre of the Chicago State Cougars.

“I’m super, super proud of her. I’m super proud of my son. Well. All my kids, but I try not to bother them,” he says.

O’Neal and his ex-wife, Shaunie O’Neal, share four children: sons Shareef and Shaqir and daughters Amirah and Me’arah. The athlete also has a stepson, Myles, from Shaunie’s previous relationship, and a daughter, Taahirah, with his former girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh.

Related: Shaquille O’Neal Tells Angel Reese He Knows He’s ‘Gonna End Up Alone’

And when he’s not watching his children follow in his great footsteps, O’Neal says he’s “always looking to work with brands on new and innovative ways to drive fan engagement around sports.”

Through his partnership with DraftKings, O’Neal says he’s excited that fans will be able to enjoy the excitement of this season’s NBA Cup thanks to the betting app’s NBA Cup Double Up Boost.

“Throughout the NBA Cup, Sportsbook customers will receive the NBA Cup Double Boost every Tuesday and Friday, consisting of a profit boost from the same NBA game and a live NBA boost,” explains O ‘Neal.

But as the popularity of sports betting increases, O’Neal wants to remind fans to be responsible this NBA season. “I also think it’s very important to play responsibly,” he says. “I want you to keep having fun, I want you to have a game plan and please stay within your limits.”