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Allen Iverson Comes Clean on Shaquille O’Neal’s Loyalty Beyond $10 Billion Ties

Published 02/19/2024, 10:09 PM EST

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The love Shaquille O’Neal has for people, and his customer-friendly ways as a whole, give him a certain edge in business that is unquantifiable. Recently, the 4x NBA champion formed a new partnership alongside Allen Iverson to take over a company that once had the two as its main figureheads. Now, the Philadelphia 76ers legend reveals what truly makes their relationship work.

The new management group for Reebok is not a surprise today. However, when the move was first made official, the new spot for both Shaq and AI was a genuine shocker. But there is one reason for Iverson that truly makes them tick together. To him, the Los Angeles Lakers legend is “the most honest person and the most loyal person.”

But, not only that, his compliments for the big man extend far beyond. “He’s also the funniest person and smartest person that you would want to be around,” Iverson told People Magazine. From the sounds of it, the Los Angeles Lakers legend is everything you could ask from a business person.

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Whether it be his loyalty and honesty as a partner, his ability to lighten a situation, or being a business genius, O’Neal has proved himself. Now AI and O’Neal’s partnership is the primary reason why Reebok is expecting its revenue to grow from $4 billion to $10 billion in the next five years.

Watch This Story: Joe Rogan Says Exactly How He Felt After Meeting Shaquille O’Neal At Fear Factor

So far, in the few short months since their Reebok takeover became official, the two have gone from strength to strength, building the brand back up.

AI – Shaquille O’Neal & their history with Reebok

When Nike was dominating the entire sporting apparel circuit, thanks to Michael Jordan, competitors sought an answer. For Reebok, that came in the form of two big-name acquisitions. Firstly, a dominant big man out of LSU became their first major signing. Next came an underdog of epic proportions.

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Unfortunately, the module did not pan out for them. But, in a beautiful twist of fate, with the company treading waters, the same two names became its saving grace, taking over an ownership role within the brand, nearly three decades after merging with them.

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Since then, stocks have steadily seen an incline, with the brilliant marketing of Shaq paired with the infallible bond of AI providing the perfect recipe for success. Shaq will be responsible for establishing partnerships with athletes and organizations in the world of basketball. He has already played an important role in getting Reebok back into the game. The company was acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2021. And Shaquille O’Neal is a shareholder in Authentic. With O’Neal and Iverson’s 19-year and 14-year-long respective careers in the NBA, their influence within the sport is undeniable.

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The brand’s official consumer launch is in 2025. With business booming, what comes next for Shaq and Iverson?

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Written by:

Priyanshu

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Priyanshu is an NBA beat Writer at EssentiallySports, with a healthy command over the technical aspects of the sport. Priyanshu has creatively covered the often entertaining interactions between legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley along with in-depth analysis of the games. He was at the forefront of the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, covering each and every aspect of the historic night in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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Edited by:

Pragya Vashisth