“I WILL BE HOOPING AGAIN, I know I have been missing and haven’t been posting what I’m doing but I did not stop! I will be back soon just want to help out my dad.” Earlier this year, Shareef O’Neal shared an update on his hooping career and said he was working with his father. But now the 24-year-old will play for the Sacramento Kings affiliate G League team of the Stockton Kings. Similarly, the President of Basketball Operations at Reebok, Shaquille O’Neal, has different plans as he added another star in the race to take the $2.5 billion company to the top.

“We would like to welcome Dink Pate to the @ReebokBasketball family. The hometown hero – Dink Pate is Dallas, TX through and through. After becoming the youngest professional basketball player in United States history, Dink is setting his sights on being a top pick in the 2025 draft,” Shaquille O’Neal added on Instagram a few days later after the official announcement. “The 6’8” point guard’s confidence and charisma make him the definition of a Reebok athlete. Welcome to the Future of Reebok Basketball.”

Even Dink Pate is ready for his future with the brand: “Reebok is just different – it’s a perfect fit for me, my style, and the way I carry myself. I’m just excited to be a part of the family, to represent the brand, and to show OGs like Shaq and A.I. how serious I am.” The lineup for Reebok now includes Angel Reese, Lexie Brown, and newly signed high school phenom Nate Ament.

Pate became the youngest American-born player to turn pro and averaged 8 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds. The 6’8” averaged 11.2 PPG and 6.2 APG in the month of February and is projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The brand was the exclusive outfitter for 29 NBA teams almost a decade ago, and that’s where Shaquille O’Neal wants Reebok to reach new heights once again.

How Shaquille O’Neal plans to take over the world with Reebok

In 2023, when Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson assumed their duties as the new President and Vice President of Basketball Operations, they had a huge target to achieve. The company aimed to hit $10 Billion in sales by 2027, and they had global retail sales of $3.7 billion in 2022. To take that next step, the Lakers legend had only one athlete in mind.

“When I took over Reebok and we wanted to do something with women’s sports, she was the first and she was the only [person I thought of].” ‘She’ is Angel Reese, Reebok’s current signature athlete. Shaquille O’Neal spoke to Vibe earlier this year and explained his plans. At the time Reese was still playing for LSU and got the NIL deal.

“No one was expecting a college player, and no one was expecting a woman,” The Chi-town Barbie told the NY Times. It was also confirmed that Angel Reese is set to become the 2nd player in history to get a signature shoe from Reebok, following Rebecca Lobo. So, not only on the professional front but on the personal front too, the O’Neal clan is enjoying success. After all, Shareef O’Neal will be back hooping and competing for his dream.