Shaquille O’Neal has recently been named the President of Reebok Basketball. The former NBA great Allen Iverson would be joining O’Neal’s efforts as the brand’s vice president of basketball.
On the other hand, LSU star Angel Reese is one of the biggest names in women’s college basketball circuit. Looking at just women’s college basketball, no player earns more than Reese in terms of NIL deals. Now Shaquille O’Neal has played his first move for Reebook with the LSU star.
Shaquille’s Reebok signs Angel Reese
Shaquille O’Neal took over Reebok last week, and his first deal executed as president is officially with LSU star Angel Reese. Reese, the “Bayou Barbie” will continue to grow her paycheck. Shaq has made a smart move by signing a young star like Angel Reese who has so much potential.
“For my first appointment in this role, it had to be the GOAT. There is no one making a bigger impact on the game right now than Angel Reese,” O’Neal said. “Angel is shaking up the space, just like Reebok has done all along. I’m proud to welcome Angel into the Reebok family and can’t wait to see how she will bring the brand’s legacy to the next generation.”
The deal hardly came as a surprise because earlier this year Shaq had called Reese the greatest athlete in LSU including himself. In a press release Reese said, “I am honored to be working closely with one of my longtime mentors, Shaq along with a brand that I have admired since I was just a little kid.”
“It means the world to me that they trust in me to extend their legacy to a new generation. Together, I think we have a great opportunity to do things differently, to inspire people to explore and express themselves unapologetically, and to show them how to look and feel good while doing it,” she added.
Shaq signed $15m deal with Reebok in 1992
In 1992 Shaquille O’Neal had signed a $15m deal with Reebok. Shaq had demanded complete creative control which they obliged, and he accepted. From 1992 to1998 the bond between Shaq and Reebok grew stronger. They made six signature shoes together and Shaq becoming a perennial All Star allowed Reebok to have a huge spike in sales. But Shaq’s interaction with a woman changed everything.
In 1998, Shaq was leaving the Orlando arena when he was confronted by a mother. The woman was upset about not being able to buy her son Reebok shoes as she found them overpriced. She cursed Shaq and asked why anyone doesn’t make affordable shoes. Shaq offered her money, but she smacked it out of his hands.
Later Shaq realized that she was right. The Reebok shoes were rather expensive any many people were not being able to buy them although they desired to. Shaq parted ways with Reebok and went on to start his own shoe brand called Shaq Shoes. Shaq started selling his shoes on Walmart at affordable prices and has been selling them for two decades.
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