Shaunie O'Neal -- Shaq's Holding My Reality Show Hostage for $1 Million

Shaq's blocking Shaunie O'Neal's reality show out of spite ... because of his own failed reality show attempts -- and demanded a ransom of $1 million to give her the go ahead -- so Shaunie claims in new legal docs, but Shaq is calling BS.

Shaunie tried to get a judge to effectively green light her attempt to put her kids in a new reality show with her ... something Shaq is strongly against.

But in her legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Shaunie says it's all sour grapes, claiming Shaq tried and failed 3 times to do a reality show with his kids. But sources close to Shaq tell us ... it's simply not true, and if a network wanted a reality show ... he's way more marketable than her.

Shaunie also claims in the docs that Shaq was ok with her show ...as long as she gave him $1 million, which she refused to do. Our Shaq sources say, ridiculous ... the last thing he needs is $$$.

Shaunie grouses that she needs to do the show to pay the bills, because she gets no alimony. But we've learned Shaq pays her $100,000 A MONTH in child support for their 4 kids.

Shaunie says Shaq barely gives two craps about the kids and only sees them 8-10 days a YEAR. Shaq sources tell us Shaunie's lying ... he sees the kids "plenty" and is very involved in their school.