Shaq Recruits Devin Booker to Reebok Amid Nike Criticism
While the NBA is notoriously overdramatic, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is one of the few exceptions. Fans love Booker for his easy-going persona and relatable fashion style (and, of course, his bucket-getting on the court).
However, Booker made headlines yesterday when he acknowledged issues with the launch of his first signature sneaker - the Nike Book 1. Complex Sneakers made an Instagram post asking if Nike had fumbled the launch of Booker's first signature sneaker. Booker quickly replied, "A lot of people feel that way," in the comment section. You can read the full story here.
Enter Shaquille O'Neal. The most dominant player of all time is not afraid of making headlines or building superteams, and that was fully apparent in his reply to Booker. "Hey @dbook, I know y'all aren't happy with the sneaker launch. You should come with @reebok. We just getting started. Hit me."
There is no chance that Booker will leave Nike, as he has been with the brand since he first entered the league in 2015. More importantly, Booker signed a contract extension with Nike in July 2022 that runs through 2029.
Meanwhile, O'Neal is dead serious about recruiting top talent to the iconic brand. Last October, O'Neal took over as Reebok's President of Basketball and made Allen Iverson his Vice President. It appears that every part of the company appears to be heading in the right direction.
Over the past few months, Reebok has signed Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese, and world champion boxer Shakur Stevenson to footwear and apparel deals. Not to mention, Reebok continues to dig into its vault of classic sneakers from the 1990s and 2000s.
It is still way too early to declare Booker's first signature sneaker a hit or miss, as it has not truly enjoyed a general release yet. But there is no doubt that O'Neal and Reebok are adamant about disrupting the sneaker industry. Stay locked into FanNationKicks.com for all your footwear news from the sports world.
