Defying Dad’s Reebok Empire, Shaquille O’Neal’s Son’s $5.4 Billion Worth Footwear Brand Obsession Returns

“My kids are older now. They’re kind of upset with me – not really upset, but they don’t understand. We ain’t rich. I’m rich.” Shaquille O’Neal made it abundantly clear that his kids would have to survive and thrive on their own. And they all are doing just that, some on the court while some shining in their off-court ventures. Of them, Shareef is doing that as he closely works alongside his father, but his past preferences might not please Shaq.

On his Instagram story, the 24-year-old wrote, “2 years ago with @crocs and @salehebembury.” Salehe Bembury is a shoe designer who worked on Crocs Pollex Clog. That’s exactly the footwear he flaunted in the story 2 years ago as he wrote, “All I wear“, with 4 pairs of Crocs, which is worth $5.4 billion as per reports.

Let’s not forget his role with Reebok, where he has been working since he passed up the chance to play in Australia. “My role with that was kind of this coordinator a little bit. I was the younger culture they brought in Reebok.” Explaining further to ClutchPoints, he revealed the conversation he had with Shaquille O’Neal to make a comeback against Nike.

“So my dad’s like, ‘You know what kids like nowadays? You’re the young generation. You know you wear the baggy-a-s pants, the big shoes.’ He’s like, ‘You know what you like.” During the interview, the current Kings star also made a surprise revelation that a Netflix documentary is in the works with Reebok which will highlight the rebranding process of the company.

“I had to do my research on Reebok, but I know back then they were up there with Jordan and Nike. It was like they were neck and neck with Jordan and Nike.” And it’s exactly the reason why Shaquille O’Neal, President of Basketball at Reebok, asked his son not to travel to Australia.

Shaquille O’Neal’s request had a hidden agenda

“He’s like, ‘Can you do me a favor this year? Can you help me rebrand Reebok? I’ll let you help redesign the shoes… redesign the clothes and help sign players. I really need your help.'” The Los Angeles Lakers legend sought his son’s help to build Reebok. But as it turns out, that was not the only intention.

“He’s like ‘Me and your mom talked about it. We’re not gonna let you go to Australia. That’s too far like damn, speaking to everything that happened, like the closest person to you is a 16-18 hour flight’. He’s like ‘We’re not going for that,'” Shareef recalled the reason behind his parents opposing the idea of playing in Australia. After all, the recovery after a congenital heart defect was a tough one for the family as a whole.

That’s why the 6-foot-10 forward changed his mind and stayed to help his father rebuild his brand. Interestingly, while he continued working to improve his skills as he earned a contract from the Sacramento Kings.