You know how some duos are just meant to be—like peanut butter and jelly, or… Jordan and Nike? Well, NBA players and sneaker brands are right up there. Everyone knows MJ made Nike a religion, but here’s the twist. In 2023, Shaquille O’Neal pulled a full-circle power move by stepping back into Reebok, this time as President. Yep, the same brand he split from in ’98. Talk about unfinished business.

Shaq has translated his sneaker legacy into a full-blown mission in his new docuseries, Power Moves. He’s stepping in as President of Reebok Basketball, alongside Allen Iverson as VP, to revive the iconic brand that helped launch his career. It’s a gritty, hands-on, and full of high-stakes decisions from Boston HQ to basketball courts across the country. For Shaq, it’s personal. And while the whole series is packed with fire, there’s one moment in the trailer that’s got everyone talking.

Reebok’s 2023 comeback beacon? Angel Reese. The WNBA star became the new face of the brand, and in Power Moves, we hear her say it loud and proud: “I just want everybody walking down the street in Reebok.” Reebok’s putting her front and center, pairing her with the iconic Shaqnosis in a bold “Sunset Coral” colorway. Since signing with Reebok in October 2023, Reese has fronted the Engine A launch. It’s Reebok’s first in-court performance shoe in a decade, and it teased a forthcoming signature model. Her player-exclusive ‘Clouds’ colorway nods to her ‘Sky’ team identity, merging Reebok’s ERS technology with collegiate roots.

In the Power Moves trailer, he lays it out clearly: “Two things that Reebok needs to do to get back into competitive space. One, this show has to be incredible… but an incredible shoe is nothing without a great player. We need somebody great, somebody that makes people go, ‘Oh my god.’” And honestly, Angel Reese might just be that someone. “There is no one making a bigger impact on the game right now than Angel Reese,” he said previously. We are bound to agree.

Fans still puzzle over their dynamic. While Shaq has openly championed the partnership, Reese has mostly kept things professional, sticking to her Reebok appearances and staying quiet otherwise.

Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese navigate fame, rivalries, and Reebok

So, here’s where things got awkward—fast. On the 2024 episode of Unapologetically Angel, Shaq sat down with Reese, the rising face of Reebok, for what should’ve been a smooth, empowering conversation. Instead, things took an uncomfortable turn when Shaq brought up Reese’s “little ass shorts” from a Wild ’N Out appearance. Not once, but multiple times. “You know how many T-shirts you gonna sell?” he quipped, trying to spin it into a marketing angle. Reese? She laughed it off, rolled her eyes, muttered “Oh my God,” and did her best to steer the conversation back on track. She hasn’t addressed the moment publicly, but fans sure have, and many weren’t impressed by Shaq’s comments, calling them “creepy,” “pervy,” and “disappointing.”

Even casual observers noted Shaq’s growing obsession with Caitlin Clark. He’s praised her game more than once, and on a recent Unapologetically Angel episode, he finally said it out loud: “I never spoke about her before because Angel is my girl… but Caitlin Clark is for real.” On the surface, it sounds like a fair shoutout. But underneath, there’s some friction bubbling. Reese and Clark have been locked in a rivalry since their NCAA days. So Shaq suddenly flipping the spotlight might not land well with Reese. Especially when it’s coming from someone she’s called a business partner, mentor, and “father figure.” 

Despite the viral backlash over Shaquille O’Neal’s comments, Reebok and Angel Reese are still on the rise, capturing cultural momentum that Nike and Caitlin Clark haven’t quite figured out. Reese’s Shaqnosis in “Sunset Coral” is already turning heads, and her spotlight grows with the Power Moves doc. Meanwhile, Nike is struggling, with their stock dropping 15% in Q1 2025, and its market cap cratering by 62% since its peak in 2021. If Reebok keeps riding Reese’s wave, Shaq’s slip-up might be forgotten in a much bigger win.

What’s next for Shaq and Angel Reese? Despite the recent controversy, it’s clear that Reebok is on the upswing, thanks to Reese’s star power. Time will tell if Reebok’s vision and the unique chemistry between Shaq and Reese will pay off in the long run.