Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most popular personalities on the planet. Despite retiring from the game of basketball in 2011, he is a pop culture favorite. Recently, Shaq was named the President of Reebok Basketball.
Shaq Attaq
Shaquille O’Neal was born in 1972, in New Jersey. Shaq played college basketball for LSU and was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992. He was the number one pick and the expectations for him were gigantic. When Shaq entered the league, he was 7’1 and had a physique like the Incredible Hulk. He was skilled and tenacious. From the start, O’Neal was expected to dominate the NBA, and he would deliver on all the hefty expectations. He earned Rookie of the Year honors after his impressive first season in the league. The center averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. Those numbers would be incredible for a seasoned veteran, they were even more so for a first year player.
The Reebok & Shaq Partnership
The Reebok Shaq Attaq was originally released in 1992. It was not only Shaq’s first signature shoe, but it was also the first time Reebok created a signature shoe for an athlete. Reebok signed Shaq to an endorsement deal after the Magic made them their star of the future. Reebok wanted to strengthen its presence in the basketball world. Shaq was the perfect baller for Reebok to make its mark with. O’Neal wore the Shaq Attaq during his unforgettable rookie season.
Dunkman
The Attaq features a leather and suede upper. They have Pump technology on the tongue, and Graphlite. The Attaq debuted Shaq’s logo, The Dunkman. The logo’s two handed jam silhouette is unmistakably O’Neal. The Shaq Attaq originally only came in two colors, “Home” & “Away.” It hard to imagine a signature sneaker today only receiving two colorways. The Shaq Attaq was backed by a huge marketing campaign, and O’Neal was seen everywhere in the sneaker.
Reebok Forever
Shaq would not wear Reebok for the entirety of his NBA run. He would leave Reebok in the late 1990s to start his own shoe company. He would return to Reebok in 2012, and retro versions of his original shoe line were released. But he is forever tied to Reebok and his iconic line of sneakers.
President
In October 2023, Shaq was announced as the President of Basketball for Reebok. In his role, he will shape the future of Reebok and its basketball division. Shaq will help recruit young talent and bring them to the brand he helped to put on the basketball map in 1992.
- Adam C. Better
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