Shaquille O'Neal's Reebok Shaqnosis Returns In OG "Black/White"
Shaq’s 5th signature sneaker is back in all its original glory.
Reebok has brought back Shaquille O’Neal‘s memorable Shaqnosis in its original “Black/White” colorway. O’Neal’s fifth signature sneaker, the Shaqnosis originally released in 1995 when the young center was a dominant force in the middle for the Orlando Magic. It then received its first-ever retro in 2013, and now it’s back for a third go-around.
Upon its initial arrival, the Shaqnosis was a bold departure from the style established by four previous Shaq Attack silhouettes. However, its divisiveness — the only original colorway produced was this two-tone style — is what makes it special. The shoe’s blend of concentric circles represent ripples spreading out from its Reebok-branded center, while the hypnotic blend of black nubuck and white leather provides maximum contrast. Combined with the ultra-high cut, the silhouette is undeniably striking, and Shaq’s signature two-hand slam logo on the bottom of the tongue lets you know just who it was made for. This graphic is repeated on the outsole, which houses full-foot DMX cushioning for comfort and performance.
Several of Reebok’s products in the latter half of the ’90s drew inspiration from the Shaqnosis as well: its style directly inspired the Reebok Blast, a model that was endorsed by Shaq’s later-day Los Angeles Lakers teammate Nick Van Exel. The bold design lines were also replicated in striped fashion on Frank Thomas’s bold Big Hurt silhouette.
Although O’Neal has moved from breaking backboards to cracking hilarious jokes as part of the NBA on TNT crew and moonlighting as DJ Shaq Diesel, his Shaqnosis still stands the test of time — and it’s available now via Reebok Japan for ¥19,800 (approximately $183 USD). A stateside release may follow later in the year as well.
The Big Diesel isn’t the only former NBA star whose Reebok shoes are making some noise: Allen Iverson‘s Answer V recently released in a star-spangled style.
