Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to an ad campaign. From selling insurance for The General, to bringing the heat for Icy Hot, and even fitting into Buicks that he made look like clown cars, Shaq potentially has one of the most prolific sponsorship résumés of any professional athlete in history.
Now, Diesel is bringing his talents to DraftKings sportsbook.
“DraftKings is thrilled to welcome NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to the family. Shaq’s personality and unparalleled energy will elevate our brand through various marketing initiatives all NBA season. His enormous presence matches our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences… https://t.co/e7drbQzlMo
— DraftKings News (@DraftKingsNews) October 16, 2024
DraftKings CMO Stephanie Sherman released a statement welcoming the former NBA big man on Wednesday. “DraftKings is thrilled to welcome NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to the family. Shaq’s personality and unparalleled energy will elevate our brand through various marketing initiatives all NBA season. His enormous presence matches our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our players.”
The sportsbook released an accompanying video with the current Inside The NBA analyst where he plays into his long list of nicknames. “Some people call me Shaq, but you can call me Mr. DraftKings,” he says before banking in a seated hook shot from the top of the key.
Funnily enough, this isn’t the first time Shaq has appeared in marketing campaigns for a sportsbook. In 2021, he became a brand ambassador for WynnBET and trademarked the term “Shaqpot” as part of his promotions there. A number of high-profile athletes from LeBron James to Wayne Gretzky have jumped into marketing campaigns for sportsbooks in recent years as well.
As sports gambling continues to grow in prominence and become legalized in more states, it’s no surprise that athletes are becoming more comfortable doing advertisements for them. Of course, Shaq hasn’t been all too picky with his endorsements to begin with.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.