Basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant dominated the court during their careers and carved their own paths in the sneaker world. Shaq built partnerships with major brands like Reebok and later pioneered affordable basketball sneakers under his Shaq brand. Kobe, on the other hand, redefined performance basketball shoes with Nike, releasing iconic models that married innovation with style. Decades later, their influence continues to shape sneaker culture, but there’s a twist to it now.

The buzz started when Shaqir posted an Instagram story showcasing himself in a pair of Kobe Bryant’s latest shoe, the Kobe Protro X-Ray, an instant favorite among basketball fans and sneakerheads. The story wasn’t just about the $190 footwear—it was a statement. For fans of the O’Neal family, this subtle endorsement hinted at a new generation’s taste and admiration for Kobe’s enduring legacy.

Bryant’s wife Vanessa teased the release of the new Kobe Protro shoe on her Instagram months ago, but the shoe was originally released on October 17th. This sneaker pays homage to one of Kobe’s and Nike’s most famous t-shirts, the “Broken Not Beaten” one launched in 2010 following Bryant’s fifth NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant gained fame for donning a t-shirt with an “X-ray” of his hand, which displayed the wounds he had sustained throughout his two decades in the game. His championship rings were also on each finger. Speaking of the shoe’s design, it seems to draw inspiration from the color scheme of t-shirts. It comes with a blue upper and an outsole that looks to glow in the dark.

Now, coming to Shaq, his sneaker journey is iconic in itself. Early in his career, in 1992, he signed with Reebok, where the Shaq Attaq and Shaqnosis became cult classics. “When I first came out [of LSU], I wanted to be the first big man [in the NBA] to have a shoe. I went to Nike, they didn’t want to sign me, so I went to Reebok. I went back to Nike wearing a Reebok jacket,” said O’Neal,” said O’Neal during an interview.

However, in a bold move that would define his entrepreneurial spirit, Shaq left Reebok in 1998 to create his affordable sneaker brand. The decision came after a pivotal moment when the mother of a fan criticized him for endorsing expensive shoes. The seven-footer responded by establishing a line of budget-friendly sneakers at retailers like Walmart. “That day, I cut ties with Reebok. I said keep the money… this ain’t right. I’ll still wear the shoes I do during the season, but I’ll be looking to do my own thing. So, I started the Shaq brand. I went to my favorite store, Walmart, and we did a deal,” said Shaq during a podcast.

Shaq, however, returned as the president of Reebok in 2023, and now he is also the second-largest individual to own shares in Authentic Brand Group, which owns brands like JCPenney and Forever 21. Shaqir’s preference for Kobe’s shoes is more than a fashion choice; it’s a testament to how both Shaq and Kobe’s sneaker empires continue to impact younger generations. Now, speaking of generations, how is Shaqir performing in the paint?

Shaqir O’Neal’s current impact in NCAA

The seven-footer’s children are making their mark on the basketball court, continuing the legacy of their Hall of Fame father. Shaq’s youngest kids started their college season, with MeA’rah O’Neal starting for the Florida Gators and Shariq starting for the Florida A&M Rattlers. While MeA’rah has shown elite performance by scoring 7 points in her very first game, the young Rattlers forward had a low start.

In his very first game against the TCU Horned Frogs, Shaqir was only able to score 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in the 15 minutes that he had played. This poor performance was connected to her mom, Shaunie’s absence from his game. However, this slump was not permanent. In his third game with the A&M Rattlers against Maryland, Shaqir scored 9 points in the 27 minutes he played, which showed a massive improvement in his skills, and LeBron James and his Siblings even praised him.

Shaqir executed a flawless backdoor slam, a move his father, Shaquille O’Neal, made famous during his NBA career, which made waves over the Internet. “That’s my boy! I love you, and I’m so proud of you, son,” wrote Shaunie as a comment on the original clip of the video in which Shaqir could be seen showcasing his skills. In his three games till now, Shaqir currently has 17 points, and in the coming days, it can be speculated that the young forward will continue to enhance his skills.