Shakeel O’Neil was a dominant force in the American Professional League, a cute giant with a 7 -foot length that broke the panels, raised four titles and left an indelible sign as one of the best centers in the history of basketball. But since his retirement in 2011, Shak showed that his effect exceeded sport.
Now, in the business world, from offices and management halls, Shaq focuses on the most dominant survival.
Besides his impressive height, one of the most distinctive O’Neill features is his sense of humor. in “Power moves with Shakeel O’Neil“Netflix series, which was first shown on June 4, admits that his mentality is” humor 80 % and a 20 % risk “when it comes to managing his business. This does not mean that he does not take his responsibilities seriously. In fact, he believes that some people tried to exploit his threatened nature when he started his commercial projects for the first time.
“Yes, many people are trying to benefit and this causes me to do more things,” O’Neill told La Times Enspañol.
Shaquille O’Neal walks to the stadium before match 1 of the American Professional League Finals between Pacers and Thunder in Oklahoma City.
(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)
He is accustomed to people trying to take advantage of his perceived weaknesses.
“They always said,” The way free throws will be called, he will never win the heroism.
He brings the same mentality to his position in Reebok, where he was the head of basketball – a position in 2023 – and leads a batch to restore importance to a brand that bets that he was a star.
When I went to Nike, they said: “Yes, we wanted to offer you your own sneakers, but we presented them to another man.” I said, “Sorry? Then when I went to Reebok, they said: “We believe in you, we will give you your shoes,” he remembers O’Neel.
This loyalty was not forgotten. Today, after 30 years of signing with Rebok as a player, O’Neal returned, not to launch old updates to his shoes, but to make decisions, train a new generation of athletes and reshape the brand’s place in a severe competitive market.
Shak did not join the executive team of Ripock for nostalgia for the past. His vision is clear: seize an opportunity as if they had the opportunity for him in the nineties.
“They have seen the opportunity for young youth. He has seized the opportunity [Allen Iverson]. Send an opportunity for the young Sean Kemp. Convert the plan into a dominant number. O’Neel explained:
With this logic, the former player decided not to bet on the NBO’s current marketing budget for one star.
“I wanted to go to the traditional path.” Hey, let’s go to tea [Gilgeous-Alexander]. Let’s go to Gilene Brown. But when you talk to the agents, these men want large numbers. … 85 or 90 % of the budget will spend. “
He persuaded his team – including his son, Sharif – O’Neill, to invest in emerging talents with a strong presence on social media and their own mentality.
An example of this is Wnba Chicago Sky Player Angel Reese, which signed with Rebok in 2023.
“Angel reminds me of Amnesty International. She will do so on her way, and the way she wants her. She does not care about what anyone else says,” O’Neel said.
Shakil O’Neil, the left, and Elin Everson watches the US Professional League challenge on February 18, 2005, at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
(Mark Terril / Associated Press)
He sees Reese not only a great athlete, but as an influential personality embodies the sabotage spirit he wants to restore in the Rebok brand.
O’Neil is not just liked what he sees in court. He is looking for something more.
“I am looking for someone who does not get the confession he deserves,” he said. “We live in a world where, as soon as one of the players or two notice them, they adhere to them forever.”
He said that he was underestimated in his early days. Although he was chosen with the first choice in the 1992 draft and an immediate effect with Orlando Magic, he said during early professional work meetings, “They have never seen me. They always looked at my manager. It was so,“ Do you think he understands work? “
This prompted him to study business and management and obtain seriousness in his financial education.
O’Neil said: “I just thought, let me get a certificate … until you know that I understand that I am responsible for my destiny.”
Now, as president of the Reebok basketball, he also appreciates the sporting family relations, the ethics of their work, their environment and their desire to represent something greater than themselves.
“I love people, mothers, fathers, trainers. People want to be represented in a certain way.”
He does not have to have all the answers. He admits that he had to adapt and learn.
He said: “It is about challenges. I was always one to escalate to meet her … … I had to learn a lot, and to know this work.”
To attract the widest group of clients, he relied on a circle close to advisers that include his son Sharif.
“I had to bring my son to help me identify with the crazy generation Z, because they are doing what they want. They follow their own path. They have their own rules.”
Although he is still a strong and firm character, O’Neal has learned to accept notes from others.
“I don’t think my best quality is listening,” admits. But in his new role, he had to give up some of his style of the old school and confidence in his team.
O’Neal was one of the most dominant players that the American Professional League watched ever. Now it is one of the most successful athletes in the business world. Its investment portfolio includes privileges of companies such as Baba Jones, Five Guys, and 24 -hour fitness and its product line and clothes. It also carries commercial support contracts with trademarks such as Icy Hot, General Insature and Carnival Craises, among other things.
But his success in the work was not written.
“On the path of success, there are many failures and you simply try more successful successes,” he said.
His secret was surrounding himself with skilled people.
“I have great teammates in the team,” O’Neel said. “My friend wins heroes herself. It is called the delegation.”
Shak turned his image into a global brand, but he insists that the key was loyal to his values. All this is around his family.
He says: “I don’t think I am. I realized that I could not do any of this without my family and blessings.”
He said that his faith and personal values help him to manage the effect of his success.
O’Neil said: “I said that about seven years ago, and they never called me famous,” O’Neel said. “Celebrities are a shake. I just want to be an ordinary person. I am a respectable person. I love children. I love the elderly. I love helping the needy. [Peace be upon you]brother.”
The fried chicken chain of O’Neil has expanded with Valencia, which offers fried chicken sandwiches, sides and tremors.
(Big Chicken)
Long before joining the executive team, O’Neal played a major role in the success of Reebok. In the early 1990s, while Nike and Adidas were building giant empires, Reebok is betting on O’Neill and Everson, and she was able to put herself as a dangerous alternative, especially among urban youth. But over time, the brand lost the earth.
Now, with the leadership of O’Neil Renaissance of the basketball division, Reebok wants to restore this lost space. Do not intend to compete directly with Nike or Adidas for the large stars, but to create its own environmental system.
“It is not a matter of gambling. It is about making the right decision.”
O’Neal was many things: the American Professional League champion, the most valuable player, all stars, businessman, commentator, DJ, actor, Fakhri police officer, improved. But perhaps his strongest side is the man of the man who builds bridges, pushes others and constantly restores himself.
This new movement, he says, strategy and personal. He enjoys reunion with the brand that I believed in and an opportunity to restore charity by helping Reebok to communicate with customers.
This article First in Spanish Via Times En Español.
