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Back in December 2018, Shareef O’Neal was diagnosed with an anomalous coronary artery which meant he needed open-heart surgery. His father, Shaquille O’Neal, strongly promised to follow him to death if needed. Luckily, the surgery went well and Shareef woke up. Fast-forward to today, as Shareef celebrates another milestone—his 25th birthday, he’s still chasing dreams, balancing hoops with unexpected business moves, and proving resilience runs deep in the O’Neal family. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing.

After his surgery, Shareef fought to return to peak form on the basketball court. An overseas opportunity in 2023 almost changed everything—but it came with a catch. Moving 7,500 miles away wasn’t a risk Shaq could bear, given how close he came to losing his son in 2018. The Lakers icon’s own regrets about missing key moments in Shareef’s health journey weighed heavily. Instead, Shaq proposed a different path, one that kept Shareef closer to home while opening the door to a new chapter in his career.

That chapter led straight to Reebok. In October 2023, Shaq took the reins as president of the brand’s basketball operations, teaming up with Allen Iverson, the newly minted vice president. Reebok, worth a whopping $2.46 billion, was in the midst of a major comeback, and Shaq had big ideas. One of those ideas? Shareef. Tapping into his son’s perspective as a young athlete, Shaq saw an opportunity for Shareef to play a key role in Reebok’s revival.

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“I know I always make fun of what you wear,” Shaq quipped, “but I really want you to help, like, you know, rebrand.” From redesigning sneakers and apparel to helping recruit talent, Shareef wasn’t just part of the process—he was integral to it. Shaq’s teasing had turned into a nudge toward something bigger than basketball.

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And Shareef took the challenge head-on. “We’re doing a really good job. I’d say that by the time 2025 starts, Reebok will be up there with the rest of these brands,” he proudly said on Then They Rose. Now, as he steps further into his father’s world of business and dreams beyond the court with a new venture.

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Shareef is ready to embrace the fashion industry

Back in November, Shareef O’Neal gave fans a glimpse of his bigger ambitions during a chat with ClutchPoints. While most young players are laser-focused on their basketball careers, Shareef is already thinking beyond the court. “A lot of NBA players, sometimes after their careers are over, they don’t really think about other things outside of basketball,” he pointed out. Inspired by his dad, Shaquille O’Neal, who is known for his business ventures, Shareef has a wider lens. As he shared, Shaq always reminded them, “One day I got to show all you guys the ropes on how to do this business stuff so I can go lay my feet up for real.”

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Is Shaq's influence on Shareef's career a blessing or a burden? What do you think?

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And Shareef is already charting his course. He’s setting his sights on the $1.7 trillion fashion industry, a world that combines his personal interests and creative energy. “I wanted to get more into like fashion business and just music stuff, video games—stuff,” he said. Having spent his downtime immersing himself in the intricacies of fashion, Shareef is ready to step into this arena with confidence. “I got to work in fashion,” he confidently stated, showing that he’s equally serious about this as he is about basketball.

Interestingly, fashion ties him even closer to his dad’s vision. Shareef revealed that Shaq once trolled him for his clothing choices. But behind the teasing, there was a twist—Shaq handed Shareef a massive opportunity. By giving him the reins to redesign Reebok shoes, Shaq not only challenged his son’s creativity but also gave him a chance to leave his mark on the industry. It’s a full-circle moment that brings basketball, fashion, and family together.

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Is Shaq's influence on Shareef's career a blessing or a burden? What do you think?