Reebok announced on Thursday that Shaquille O’Neal, the retired NBA superstar, has been appointed as the first president of basketball for the company.
In addition, it was declared by the company that Allen Iverson, a former NBA legend, would be joining O’Neal’s endeavors as the vice president of basketball for the brand.
According to the company, Reebok stated that the introduction of this newly established role is a significant step towards their reentry into the realm of professional performance basketball.
Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky expressed his excitement about the significant appointment, stating, “We are extremely pleased to enhance our partnership with Shaquille. Given his long-standing affiliation with Reebok and the remarkable impact he has had on the sport, there is no one more suitable than him to assume the leadership role and guide our brand towards regaining its rightful position of authority and excellence in the basketball industry.”
According to the statement, O’Neal has been affiliated with Reebok as a partner for numerous years. He entered into a contract with the shoe brand in 1992 before his rookie season, marking it as the largest endorsement deal in the company’s history.
According to the news release, the hall-of-famer will take charge of Reebok’s basketball strategy in his recent role. He will also focus on forging partnerships with teams and athletes to enhance the brand’s significance and authority in the professional sport. Additionally, the aim is to secure new brand deals with existing players.
O’Neal responded to the announcement by stating, “We’re making a comeback, folks! Brace yourselves.” The extent of O’Neal’s involvement in his additional role remains uncertain, considering his existing commitment as a full-time host on TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”
In addition to being a longstanding partner of the shoe company, Iverson is now expected to take on a new role where he will be responsible for player recruitment, grassroots and community-based initiatives, and athlete activations, such as organizing the Iverson Classic.
O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers to have ever played in the NBA. Throughout his impressive 19-year career, he achieved remarkable success, securing four championships – three with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. Additionally, he received the prestigious title of the league’s most valuable player in 2000.
Iverson, a game-changing scoring guard, played for the Philadelphia 76ers for the majority of his 14-year career. During his time with the team, he led them to the NBA Finals in 2001, where they unfortunately lost to O’Neal’s Lakers. It was also the season he earned the title of NBA MVP.
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- Shaquille O’Neal
- NBA
- Basketball
