15-time N.B.A. All-Star, Shaquille O’Neal is known for standing apart from the crowd. He was a first-draft pick for the Orlando Magic, has an entry in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and stands at a solid 7’1. Yet not many people know about his lengthy partnership with Reebok…
And even less people know that he is the new president of Reebok’s recently reinstated basketball division.
Here’s how the player went from making moves on the court to making moves in the future of athletic wear.
The Origins Of Shaq’s Partnership With Reebok
In 1992, after the Orlando Magic signed him, Shaq also chose to sign with Reebok…
After they met with all of his demands during the meeting.
O’Neal had requested his own sneakers with a silhouette of him dunking…
And to be involved in the making of the commercials for these shoes.
Reebok accepted all his terms.
This became the start of a long and lucrative business relationship between the two.
In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the show company saw its basketball division take off…
But it couldn’t last forever. Eventually, in 2005, Adidas bought out the company…
And the basketball division suffered.
Since then, O’Neal became a Authentic Brands group partner and constantly pushed for Adidas to sell the subsidiary.
FINALLY IN 2021, AUTHENTIC BRANDS BOUGHT REEBOK FOR $2.5 BILLION, ALL THANKS TO A LITTLE HELP FROM THE MAN HIMSELF.
Soon enough, Shaq got a call from the shoemakers asking for some input while brainstorming the revival of the basketball division. After a long and endlessly productive conversation, the player called them back with one request:
Shaquille told them “I want to be president,”
To the execs… making O’Neal the president of Reebok basketball was an easy and somewhat obvious move…
For everyone involved.
Shaq’s Vision For Basketball
Now, at the head of Reebok’s basketball planning, Shaq is looking forward to the big picture.
The former All-Star is most excited to work with and sign promising young talent in the game right now. His first athlete partner? Angel Reese, WNBA first-draft pick for the Chicago Sky.
While this is not Shaq’s first foray into business, his position as president of Basketball will take all of his practical knowledge from the court…
And combine it with more straight-edge business knowledge.
Shaq considers himself a great delegator in the workspace and always keeps his sights set on accomplishing the goals at hand. This is someone who knows their strengths…
And is confident about it.
In Reeboks annual brand summit, O’Neal reminded everyone what they were there for, saying:
“LISTEN, WE’RE GETTING BACK INTO BASKETBALL… AND I WANT EVERYONE IN HERE TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE 100 PERCENT IN ON THIS, BECAUSE I’M 100 PERCENT IN ON THIS.”
While a new line of sneakers is still a ways away, Shaq has proven time and again that you can be a champion on the court…
And in your business.
Be Great,
GCTV Staff
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