Shaquille O’Neal on $79 Billion Industry Sweeping USA: “People Want to Be a Part of What We Had Back in the Day”

NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal had one of the most popular signature shoe collections ever. The four-time champ initially signed a deal with Reebok, before going on to launch his own brand of affordable shoes. And when asked about the $79 Billion industry, Shaq said that people wanted to be a part of it even today.

Shaq was one of the pioneers of the sneaker culture. He along with Michael Jordan was two of the biggest stars in the sneaker industry back in the day. Every NBA star now has their own signature shoes and sneaker deals. Shaq and Jordan arguably paved the way.

Shaquille O’Neal’s first shoe deal with Reebok, which got his signature shoes out had a major role to play in the 90s. His first shoe was the Shaq Attack, and it was an instant classic and the style spread out everywhere. Sneaker legend Judy Close designed the shoe. He then launched The Shaqnosis which was an even bigger hit and Jonathan Morris designed it.

Shaquille O’Neal gives his thoughts on the $79 Billion industry

Today, the sneaker industry is massive, and it is reportedly worth over $79 Billion. And sneakers are not just limited to basketball stars today. Every major athlete wants to have his own signature line. Even Shaq wants to collaborate with a few of these stars in the future. He would love to collaborate with Dee Brown and his daughter Lexie on his classic Shaqnosis shoes.

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Shaq also talked about the impact of Sneakers in 2022. He adds, “It’s crazy to see the evolution of the sneaker industry, but one thing that has remained is the sense of community. Sneaker culture is really what is at the heart of the industry. Now we see that all the classics are coming back and are in more demand than ever because people want to be a part of what we had back in the day.”

The sneaker industry has become a staple part of the culture today. Even celebrities and rappers now have their own line of shoes and some of them are very popular. And the former MVP arguably played a pivotal role alongside other basketball icons.

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Would you buy classic Shaquille O’Neal signature shoes like The Shaq Attack or The Shaqnosis? Let us know in the comments.