Back in 2008, LeBron James was coming off a disappointing exit in the playoffs. He had taken the Cavs to seven games against the eventual champs, the Boston Celtics. And he was gearing up to improve on that as he had gained 20 pounds in the offseason. And that too by a product which Shaquille O’Neal refused to endorse, twice.
Shaq has tons of endorsements, and he has made millions of them. But there is one rule that Shaq follows when it comes to endorsing products. He won’t do it unless he has used it or it’s something he believes in.
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He said, ” People look at them as endorsements. I look at them as partnerships. I’m very picky. If I’m not in tuned with the product, if I don’t like the product, I won’t do it.”
Shaquille O’Neal refused to endorse this product twice
One of the products Shaq refused to endorse was Wheaties. It is one of the most popular cereals of all time and still is to this day. But Shaq never ate Wheaties, so he could never endorse it.
Wheaties approached him once after he won his first championship but he said no. And then they came back again after he won his second title, but Shaq said no again. He told his team that he would rather be the face of Fruit Loops or Frosted Lakes.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 25: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal speaks at the 12th Annual Lakers All-Access Event at Staples Center on January 25, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, LeBron James gained weight from the same product that Shaq refused to endorse. Just before he won his first MVP award, LeBron sat down for an interview with Stephen A. Smith. They talked about the previous season’s disappointing outcome and how the team was set up.
Afterwards, Smith asked how big he is right now. He asked if he had gained 25 pounds. LeBron admitted that he has gained about 20 lbs. And the reason for that was Wheaties.
LeBron won his first MVP award that season, but his team would go on to lose in the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron would play another season with the Cavs and after another playoff disappointment, he would leave for the Miami Heat. And the rest is history.
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LeBron definitely got back into shape later on, but he had gained weight by eating Wheaties. The same product which Shaq had refused to endorse.
