O’Neals don’t restrict themselves only to basketball. Shaq, after dominating the NBA for two decades, has conquered the DJ scene, and now his kids are carving their own paths. Shareef O’Neal, who faced open-heart surgery because of an anomalous coronary artery, is one of them. While many believe his NBA dream might just end, he is considering the opportunity to push for another dream — fashion. While recovering, he took a creative turn by stepping in as a designer for Shaq’s Reebok brand. And now he teamed up with Fashion Nova.

Shareef posted a clip on Instagram, confidently repping Nova Men, a menswear line under Fashion Nova. Captioning it “Elevating @novamen,” Shareef hyped up the brand’s Black Friday sale, showing off his style in a way that screamed confidence.

Interestingly, Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t always been on board with Shareef’s fashion choices. Known for poking fun at his son’s wardrobe, Shaq’s tune changed after Shareef’s surgery. When Shareef expressed a desire to leave the U.S., Shaq had a heartfelt request. “I know I always make fun of what you wear,” Shaq admitted, “but I really want you to help, like, you know, rebrand.” From redesigning shoes to recruiting players, Shaq entrusted Shareef with revamping Reebok’s image.

And Shareef has risen to the challenge. “We’re doing a really good job. I’d say that by the time 2025 starts, Reebok will be up there with the rest of these brands,” he proudly shared on Then They Rose.

Despite going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, he joined the LA Lakers and spent the 2022 season in the G-League. However, as he took a break in 2023, critics and analysts doubted Shaquille O’Neal’s son to pursue a professional basketball career. But recently Shareef signed a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings, although he was waived the next day and reassigned to the Stockton Kings in the G-League.

As he continues to chase his hoop dreams, Shareef’s passion for fashion remains unwavering.

Shareef O’Neal’s passion for fashion

“My whole family is big on fashion,” Shareef O’Neal once told Forbes. Inspired by creators who break the mold, Shareef doesn’t shy away from mixing high fashion with urban trends. “With my personal style, I like to be comfortable but stylish,” he added. For him, fashion isn’t just about looking good; it’s about connecting with people in a unique way.

Interestingly, Shareef recently spoke about how fashion became a big part of his plans. “A lot of NBA players, sometimes after their careers are over, they don’t really think about other things outside of basketball,” he shared during a chat with ClutchPoints. But for Shareef, the goal is clear—exploring life beyond the court and turning his passion into a career.

And his father, Shaquille O’Neal, couldn’t agree more. Shaq has always pushed his kids to think bigger. “One day I got to show all you guys the ropes on how to do this business stuff so I can go lay my feet up for real,” Shaq told them, as Shareef recalled. Taking his dad’s words to heart, Shareef is already planning his next big step in the fashion world.

“I wanted to get more into like fashion business and just music stuff, video games—stuff,” Shareef admitted. During his time away from basketball, he immersed himself in fashion, learning the ins and outs of the industry. “I got to work in fashion,” he said. Now, he’s ready to take the leap.