[ad_1]
Reebok’s New Brand Ambassadors
O’Neal expressed, “Bloggers, emcees, athletes, designers, they are the new era brand ambassadors.”
Reebok’s All-Star Collaboration
During the All-Star weekend of N.B.A. in February, O’Neal and Iverson were seen endorsing Reebok with stylish varsity jackets. These jackets were personalized and represented their titles. Alongside this personal promotion, Reebok introduced its exciting N.B.A.-themed collaboration with Victor Solomon, a famed Los Angeles artist, an idea suggested by Mr. O’Neal himself.
Reebok’s Partnership with Angel Reese
Star players indeed hold a significant place in endorsing any brand. Reebok realized this and, in an unexpected move in October, partnered with Angel Reese. Reese is one of the many celebrated young players in women’s basketball and a former all-American at L.S.U. Recently, she further boosted her career by joining the Chicago Sky of the W.N.B.A. as a first-round draft pick.
O’Neal’s Mentorship to Reese
O’Neal first encountered Reese when he accompanied his daughter, Me’Arah, a promising high school basketball prospect, during a recruitment trip to his college. Although Me’Arah later joined the University of Florida, O’Neal developed a mentor-mentee relationship with Reese. He sees Reese as a daughter and praised her for being fearless and owning her individuality.
Reebok Signs Reese
With O’Neal’s suggestion, Reebok signed an N.I.L. deal with Reese in October. It made her the first player, irrespective of gender, to be sponsored by the company in the era of Shaq. Reese expressed, “No one expected a college-going woman to be sponsored. But the world appreciated this move, which meant so much to me.”
Why Reese?
Todd Krinsky described Reese as a “provocative” individual who aligns with the company’s aim to disrupt. He recalled Reebok’s spectacular 2001 collaboration with rapper Jadakiss to promote Mr. Iverson’s iconic sneaker line, the Answer V. It perfectly resonated with the N.B.A.’s increasing association with hip-hop and Black culture, a trend majorly set forward by athletes like Iverson.
[ad_2]
