Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson to head Reebok Basketball’s return to the top

NBA Hall of Famers Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson will head Reebok's relaunch back into basketball after their long history with the company.

'Shaq' has landed the President of basketball role, while Iverson will support O'Neal in a Vice President role.

According to @theofficialai3 on Instagram, Iverson said: "I'm honored to be part of @reebok's return to the court. For @Shaq and me, who both joined the brand at a young age in the 90s, to growing into long-time brand partners." "It's special."

As Iverson pointed out, he and the Laker legend were the face of the brand in the 90s, as Reebok became a sneaker powerhouse in the NBA community.

After being a staple in the shoe market, Adidas bought Reebok and was a subsidiary company for 15 years. It was sold in 2022 and acquired by Authentic Brands Group.

According to NBC Sports, the CMO of ABG, Nick Woodhouse, Said: "Since acquiring Reebok, we have been steadfast in restoring the brand's position at the intersection of sports and fashion. This expanded partnership with Shaquille puts Reebok back in the game."

In a statement from Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky, it said: "As an athlete, Shaq made an incredible imprint on not only our brand, but the entire sport and culture of basketball."

"With the combination of his deep-rooted history with Reebok and the reigning influence he's made on the game, there is no one better than this guy to take the helm and lead our brand back to reclaiming its rightful place and dominance in basketball."

O'Neal played in Reebok shoes after he was signed by the company in 1992 as a rookie. His most popular sneakers were the 'Shaq Attaq' and 'Shaqnosis.'

Whilst Reebok was dominating the shoe game in the late 90s and early 2000s, O'Neal was laying his claim as the best basketball player in the world.

The Lakers center won four NBA Championships, three NBA Finals MVPs, a regular season MVP, and eight All-NBA First Team appearances in a legendary career.

Allen Iverson released 14 different sneakers in his brand deal with Reebok during his NBA career. His shoes were called the 'Answers.'

During his most prolific spell as an NBA player in 2001, Iverson wore the Reebok Answer IV. In that season, he won the NBA MVP, NBA scoring champion, All-Star MVP, All-NBA First Team, and NBA Steals Leader.

The pair will now lead Reebok into a new generation, with the basketball sneaker market dominated by Jordan Brand and Nike.

The rebrand is expected to launch in 2025, with the success of Iverson and Shaq expected to spearhead Reebok to the top of the pile.

Will Shaq and Iverson deliver on bringing Reebok back to the top of the sport, or is Nike's grip on the market too strong?