Shaq Shoe Size By Age And The Story Behind It

Shaquille O’Neal is among the most well-known NBA players of all time. With a height of 7 feet 1 inch and a weight of 310 pounds, you might wonder about the Shaq shoe size.

So, what size shoe does Shaq wear?

This article will reveal essential information about his gigantic feet and some interesting facts about his shoes.

What Is Shaq Shoe Size?

The actual shoe size of Shaquille O’Neal is size 22 in US (or 47 in EU), as officially announced to the public.

Until now, this is the biggest shoe size in the history of the NBA. Some other professional basketball players with this shoe size are Tacko Fall and Bob Lanier.

In some interviews, Shaq explained that he couldn’t afford shoes at his actual size when he was younger. So, he had to play basketball in US-20 shoes, which were too tight for his feet.

After coming into the NBA until now, when he retired from NBA, he never had to get his feet squished into tight shoes again.

Now, he can buy shoes that perfectly fit his feet.

Shaq Shoe Size By Age

Just like other basketball players, Shaq’s feet grow with age. Below is the detailed shoe size chart of Shaquille O’Neal at different periods of his life.

Shaq’s body grows fast with age.

While Shaq’s shoe size at 12 years old is only US 10.5, he quickly reached the average shoe size of NBA players (US 15) at 16.

Finally, at 25, Shaq got his maximum foot size of US 22 with a stunning height of 7 feet 1 inch (215.9 centimeters) and a weight of 310 pounds (140.6kg).

Check more: 10 Signature Steph Curry Shoes

Shaq’s Special Shoes In NBA

LSU

During his three years at LSU, Shaq wore sneakers from two brands:

• Gold and purple LA Gear KAJ (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and LA Gear Catapult Mailman from LA Gear – a famous brand for performance basketball in the 1990s.
• Nike Air Force VI from Nike – a shoe model for heavy players like Shaq.

Orlando Magic

Shaq was about to be a basketball superstar when he entered Orlando Magic. Here, he wore 6 sneakers from Reebok – Reebok Shaq Attaq I/II/III/IV, Reebok Shaqnosis, and Reebok Preacher.

These sneakers have Shaq’s signature as a bold statement for the Shaquille O’Neal brand name.

There is an interesting story behind these Reebok Shaq sneakers.

As a rising star, Shaq wanted to have sneakers with his signature on them. He received offers from two footwear giants – Nike and Reebok.

After being refused by Nike, Shaq switched to Reebok and successfully dealt a 5-year contract of million dollars with his trademarked signature on the Shaq Attaq sneakers.

Besides his confidence and previous awards in NBA, Shaq utilized his marketing skills to sign a great deal with Reebok, with full creative control over his sneaker line – Shaq Attaq.

Additionally, there are 2 small stories about the first Shaq Attaq and its 3rd improvement.

• Reebok Shaq Attaq

With the first Shaq Attaq, Shaq got 23.4 ppg, 13.6 rpg, and 3.8 bpg in 1993.

He also became the starting center of the Eastern Conference for the All-Star Game (1993), the “Magic to the Playoffs”, and the “Rookie of the Year” award.

In 1994, Shaq and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway was listed among the most one-two punches in the NBA. With this result, the Orlando Magic was the #1 team in the NBA.

• Reebok Shaq Attaq III

Shaq Attaq III appeared with Shaq in the 1994 FIBA Basketball World Cup (Toronto).

Shaq and his Dream Team II teammates won over Russia in the finals with 40 points and 9 rebounds per game after 20 minutes.

LA Lakers

During his years in LA Lakers, Shaq signed 3 signature shoes with Reebok – Reebok Shaq Dunk Mob, Reebok Shaq Reflection, and Reebok Shaq Steel.

Reebok Shaq Dunk Mob was released in his first season in LA Lakers.

Shaq got 26 and 12 with this Reebok sneaker, and the Lakers got the playoffs with some core players like Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Kobe Bryant.

After the success of Dunk Mob, Shaq rocked on the court with another signature Reebok sneaker – Reebok Shaq Reflection. With this sneaker, he got up to 28 and 12. Plus, the Lakers reached the Western Conference finals.

Reebok Shaq Steel was the first sneaker named after the film “Steel” (1997) starring Shaq.

Fun Facts About Shaq’s Shoes

1. Shaq’s Favorite Shoe Store

Friedman’s Shoes has been the favorite shopping destination of Shaq for many years until his retirement.

This store, owned by Bruce, specializes in super-sized basketball shoes. He has bought over 2,000 pair of shoes here.

2. Shaq Wore A New Pair Of Shoes Every Game

Shaq grew up poor and once wore the same pair of shoes for 2-3 years. In recent years, Shaq has worn new shoes every time he is on the court.

There are two reasons for this change.

First, Shaq wants to give the shoes to his fans as unique gifts.

Second, he can pay for any pair of shoes he wants. So, he loves wearing new shoes every day, at every game.

3. Shaq’s “Shoe Phone” Is ‘Real’

Shaq has a ‘shoe phone’ as his great passion for basketball. He once showed this phone at a game at Pepsi Center in Denver (2015).

While in the locker with some superstars from the East, Shaq called with his shoe phone and got Dwyane Wade’s and Allen Iverson’s attention.

4. He Loves To Wear Big Shoes

In an FN interview, Shaq admitted that:

“My shoe size is 20 but I like to wear a 22 because when I was young we couldn’t afford proper shoes so I had to wear my shoes tight,”. “[Now] I always get my shoes too big to make sure I have room.”

5. He Likes Slip-On Shoes Over Lace-Up Ones

After he retires from the NBA, Shaq prefers to be in his slip-on shoes rather than tight lace-up ones. Slip-on shoes give him more freedom to do weightlifting and cardio exercises.

“I’d rather do that than have to bend down and tie my shoe. My workout consists of just cardio and lifting weights. No more running, no more jumping. I’m more of a slip-on guy,” – said Shaq.

6. He Launched Dunk.net, Then Dunkman

With his excellent marketability, Shaq continued his trademark branding even after ending the contract with Reebok.

In 2000, Shaq launched Dunk.net – an e-shop selling affordable basketball sneakers.

After the fall of Dunk.net due to the global dot-com bubble, he launched Shaq Dunkman – a footwear brand specializing in budget-friendly basketball shoes for kids.

Final Words

In sum, Shaquille O’Neal has a shoe size of US 22, among the most incredible foot size in the NBA.

You now know that Shaq is also the CEO/Founder of Dunkman, a footwear business aimed at young basketball enthusiasts.

This shoe brand provides affordable shoes below $39.99 yet sturdy and heavy enough for kids.

These Dunkman shoes were available in various Walmart stores, with Over 120 million pairs sold worldwide.