Shaquille O’Neal’s Height and Shoe Size: Discover the NBA Legend’s Staggering Stats

When you discover that Shaquille O’Neal is over 7 feet tall, your first question is probably, “What size shoes does he wear?”.

It’s one of the most popular questions about the former professional basketball player. Social media goes wild for his giant feet whenever he appears on television.

Shaquille O’Neal attends the 1st Annual BET Awards at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on June 19, 2001, wearing a bold striped sleeveless shirt and relaxed navy trousers that matched his larger-than-life personality (Credit: WENN / Harrison)

We’re breaking down everything you need to know about Shaquille O’Neal’s legendary size 22 (and sometimes 23) shoes — and how his larger-than-life feet sparked a footwear empire that blends athletic power with accessible style.

Shaquille O’Neal’s Rise: Dominance, Drive, and a Footwear Phenomenon

Shaquille O’Neal grew up in New Jersey and attended Louisiana State University before being drafted by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 NBA draft.

Renowned for his dominance as a center, O’Neal quickly became one of the most talked-about players in the league, earning the 1992–93 Rookie of the Year title. His larger-than-life presence on the court — both in stature and skill — made him an instant standout and a media favorite.

The 27-year-old Shaquille O’Neal greets fans outside the Official All Star Café in Columbus, Ohio, on June 26, 1999 — showing off the charisma and larger-than-life energy that made him a global icon on and off the court (Credit: Mike Elicson / WENN)

From Orlando to Boston: The Basketball Reign of Shaquille O’Neal

With O’Neal on the team, the Orlando Magic got to the NBA Finals in 1995. After four years of success at Orlando Magic, O’Neal moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, who won three consecutive championships between 2000-2002.

After a complicated relationship with Kobe Bryant, O’Neal was moved to the Miami Heat and then to the Phoenix Suns mid-way through the 2007-2008 season.

He moved once again to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a season before spending one season at the Boston Celtics. After the 2010-11 season, O’Neal retired from professional basketball.

Shaquille O’Neal, professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe, Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKid of the Year, Ally Sentnor, and actor Noah Schnapp attend the 2019 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson Of The Year at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on December 9, 2019, in New York City (Credit: WENN / INSTAR)

A Legacy of Greatness: Shaquille O’Neal’s Career Honors and Milestones

He was one of the most successful professional basketball players of recent times, earning numerous awards for his talents. Shaquille O’Neal is one of three NBA players to win the NBA VPA, All-Star game MVP, and Finals MVP awards within the same season.

His other awards include the 1992-93 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and 15 All-Star game selections. In 2017, he was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Shaquille O’Neal debuts ShaqBLACKJack, a hybrid slot-table game, at Parx Casino in Las Vegas on October 5, 2015 (Credit: Hugh Dillon / WENN)

Beyond the Court: Shaquille O’Neal’s Life in Music, Media, and More

Since retiring from the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal has been keeping himself busy with several business ventures. During his basketball days, he had a successful career as a rap artist, with his first album ‘Shaq Diesel’ going platinum after its release in 1993.

O’Neal has toured as a DJ under the name ‘Diesel’ and has appeared in several films and TV shows. He’s also had his own reality television shows, Shaq’s Big Challenge (2007) and Shaq Vs (2009-2010).

Shaquille O’Neal with his five children, Shareef, Me’arah, Shaqir, Amirah, and Taahirah O’Neal, at the premiere of his latest film, Uncle Drew, held in New York City on June 26, 2018 (Credit: Derrick Salters / WENN)

O’Neal is now a sports analyst on ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT, where he shares his unique insights into the game. He became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, a rival from his days at the Los Angeles Lakers, in 2013.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, O’Neal invested in major companies like Apple, General Electric, and PepsiCo. In addition to his stock market investments, he owns a real estate business and actively invests in tech start-ups.

In 2016, he expanded his focus to the food franchise industry by purchasing a Krispy Kreme store, a brand for which he serves as a global ambassador. In 2019, he joined the board of directors of Papa John’s and invested in 9 of its Atlanta stores.

Shaquille O’Neal’s Height and Shoe Size

When Shaquille O’Neal was a freshman, he already stood 6 feet and 6 inches tall, which would grow to 7 feet and 1 inch by the time he joined the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the tallest men ever to play the sport and also one of the heaviest, weighing over 325 pounds. While most NBA players wear sizes 13 or 14, Shaquille O’Neal wears sizes 22 or 23.

All NBA players have larger-than-average feet, with sizes well above the average range of 9-12, but O’Neal is famous for his shoe size.

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal towers over actor Jack Nicholson during his jersey retirement ceremony at Staples Center on April 2, 2013, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: WENN)

Standing Tall: Shaquille O’Neal’s Height, Shoe Size, and Larger-Than-Life Presence

When Shaquille first began playing in the NBA, his shoe size was 20 before it ballooned to 22 and 23. For comparison, Kobe Bryant wore a size 14, while Michael Jordan wore a size 13. Tacko Fall, a current NBA player, is taller than Shaquille at an impressive 7 feet 6 inches.

Shaquille O’Neal, standing 7′1″ tall in a black zip-up jacket and jeans, towers over 5′1″ Joy Bauer, who adds a few inches with platform boots and a floral skirt during a commercial break on the Today show on May 23, 2025 (Credit: Jesse Bauer / Startraksphoto)

Every time he appears on television, audiences are amazed by the sheer size of his feet. As O’Neal stands at over 7 feet tall, it’s no surprise that his partners have spent most of their relationships looking up at the NBA legend.

Shaquille O’Neal was married to Shaunie Nelson, who stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall, from December 2002 to November 2009. Their son, Shareef O’Neal, plays college basketball for the LSU Tigers in the Southeastern Conference and has already reached 6’11”.

Shaquille O’Neal and his wife, Va’Shaundya Karlette “Shaunie” O’Neal, and their son, Shareef Rashaun O’Neal, at the Usher Motorola afterparty for the MTV VMAs held at Shore Hotel, Miami, Florida, on August 29, 2004 (Credit: WENN)

Shaquille O’Neal’s Personal Life: Family, Fame, and High-Profile Romances

O’Neal also has a son from a previous relationship, Myles, a 6-foot-2-inch model.

Since his divorce from Shaunie, O’Neal has had two high-profile relationships. From 2010 to 2012, he dated Nicole Alexander, a VH1 contestant who won ‘Flavor of Love’ and ‘I Love Money’.

Their height difference was even more noticeable than Shaunie’s, as Nicole is a petite 5 feet and one inch, meaning he was two feet taller than her.

Shaquille O’Neal and his girlfriend Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander host his retirement party at Moon nightclub at the Palms Casino Resort on June 25, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)

O’Neal and model-entrepreneur Laticia Rolle were together for several years, even getting engaged in 2016 before calling it quits in 2018.

Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, Rolle often appeared positively petite beside the 7-foot-1 NBA legend — a pairing that once turned heads on countless red carpets.

Shaquille O’Neal and Laticia Rolle attend the 2017 NBA Awards at Basketball City – Pier 36 – South Street on June 26, 2017, in New York City (Credit: Derrick Salters / WENN)

Shaquille O’Neal’s Shoes Ventures

The buzz around Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe size even resulted in Reebok releasing a pair of shoes called the ‘Shaq Attaq’ – the first of his signature shoes – when he played with the Orlando Magic.

The original Shaq Attaq shoes featured ‘the pump’ technology and were designed to be oversized. Reebok released a series of sneakers to the Shaq Attaq line between 1992 and 1998.

As brands look back into their archives for inspiration, Reebok re-released the Shaq Attaq IV in 2013 as part of their ‘Reebok Classic’ collection.

In 2004, O’Neal partnered with Payless ShoeSource to create a range of Dunkman athletic sneakers that retailed for less than $40.

This collaboration would fuel his focus on putting affordable footwear ahead of the grandeur that often surrounds basketball collaboration.

Yann Herrmann helps launch Shaquille O’Neal’s menswear collection at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City on April 12, 2004 (Credit: PNP / WENN)

His post-NBA ventures include a budget sneaker line – ‘Shaq Sneakers’ – that replicates some of his most iconic sneakers for under $100, focusing on children’s shoes.

While the NBA often focuses on the most coveted sneakers, which cost several hundred dollars, O’Neal has struck out and created an affordable sneakers line that lets the average person experience a little of the NBA sneakers world.

O’Neal’s focus on affordable sneakers has paid off. In 2016, the former NBA star posted on social media that his shoe brand had sold over 120 million pairs of shoes at Walmart.

While the Nike Air Jordan shoes cost upwards of $200, O’Neal’s range of kids’ shoes starts at $12.70 at Walmart. His shoe line draws inspiration from some of the most coveted sneakers, including Nike Airs and Nike Jordans.

Some models are practically exact replicas, offering the latest trends to the masses without the high price tag. His business model is the polar opposite of that of fellow NBA legends such as Michael Jordan.

Taahirah O’Neal, host Shaquille O’Neal, Shareef O’Neal, Shaqir O’Neal, Me’arah O’Neal, and Myles O’Neal attend the Third Annual Hall of Game Awards hosted by Cartoon Network at Barker Hangar on February 9, 2013, in Santa Monica, California (Credit: Brian To / WENN)

The Shaq shoe lines focus on replicating designs instead of prioritizing a luxury price tag.

In 2019, O’Neal collaborated with Skechers to release the ‘Shaq by Skechers’ collection for kids. The Skechers collaboration used the iconic Shaq logo of O’Neal dunking, and it is the first time the iconic American brand has created a specific basketball shoe.

SHAQ by Skechers “Powershot” in red and black — a mid-top basketball sneaker blending bold design with O’Neal’s signature focus on comfort and affordability (Credit: Skechers)

The Shaq by Skechers collection offers two models – the Durafusion and the Powershot – which stay true to O’Neal’s philosophy of affordable footwear. Each style retails for $52

O’Neal’s Focus On Affordable Shoes

As no stranger to the struggles of finding shoes big enough to accommodate his feet, O’Neal famously helped a teenager who was experiencing the same problem.

Shaquille O’Neal and Jay-Z attend Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Loews Miami Beach Hotel on February 1, 2020, in Miami Beach, Florida (Credit: WENN / Instar)

After hearing how Brittany Keith struggled to find shoes to fit her 13-year-old son’s size 18 feet, O’Neal came to the rescue. He purchased ten pairs of shoes for the teenager, recalling the same difficulties he had faced.

Shaquille O’Neal said he was inspired to research the possibility of creating affordable shoes after an encounter with a woman before an NBA game.

She rejected his $1,000 offer before asking why no one had tried to make shoes ordinary people could afford. It was this chance meeting that led him to turn his back on the lucrative world of brand collaborations and instead focus on his Walmart line.

He also disclosed on social media that his father was a source of inspiration after the man reminded him that a basketball career could not last forever and that he needed a separate business.

The Future of O’Neal’s Ventures

Thanks to his wildly successful footwear ventures and savvy investments, O’Neal now earns more than he did at the height of his NBA career.

Beyond sneakers, his growing empire spans restaurant franchises, fitness centers, and a high-profile partnership with Papa John’s — proof that Shaq’s business instincts are just as powerful as his slam dunks.

He is a business partner in Authentic Brands Group, to which he sold the rights to his future business deals that use his name, such as merchandise.

In 2018, O’Neal disclosed to Business Insider that he makes more from his endorsements and advertising deals than he did during his NBA career.

With his empire behind him, O’Neal has said that one of his ambitions is to buy Reebok from Adidas. Reebok has been owned by Adidas since 2005.

In O’Neal’s opinion, Reebok has strayed from its days as a brand focused on basketball and fitness to an athleisure one. He argued that the brand is struggling to compete with Under Armour, Adidas, and Nike because they have stronger brand identities.

In October 2023, Reebok named Shaquille O’Neal as the president of Reebok Basketball. This move is part of Reebok’s strategy to re-establish itself as a key player in team sports.

Reebok’s 2017 Shaq Attaq “Modern” was inspired by Shaquille O’Neal’s affinity for martial arts (Credit: Reebok)

Forbes magazine estimated O’Neal’s worth at around $400 million in 2016, which makes the likelihood of another shoe line or venture extremely high.

His wealth has come in part from his investments. He started as a bond investor in the 1990s before shifting his focus to the stock market.

With his strong track record of investing in brands that align with his ideals, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former NBA star take a step toward acquiring a stake in a more established shoe brand.

The Shaq sneakers range for kids continues to be a best-seller at Walmart, with all of the current offerings on the store’s website priced under $20.

His partnership with the retailer shows no sign of stopping, especially as O’Neal shops there. The business mogul once spent $70,000 – the largest single transaction for the store – during a visit to Walmart to furnish his apartment after an NBA move.

From NBA Superstar to Sneaker Mogul: How Shaquille O’Neal Built an Empire from Size 22 Shoes

While most NBA stars retire from the sport and take up lucrative deals with luxury companies, O’Neal is unique.

Conversations about his height and build dominated his NBA career, and they have followed him into sports commentary. Whenever he appears on our television screens, social media goes crazy over his shoe size.

There’s no doubt that the conversation around his famously big feet played a part in his journey into the world of sneakers. What began with collaborations with Reebok would eventually shift to focusing on affordable shoes.

Shaquille O’Neal shows off his enormous Reebok sneakers—custom-sized around US 22 to 23—to accommodate his 7′1″ frame and signature athletic build (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)

As a man with many investments, O’Neal prioritizes the aesthetics and accessibility of his sneakers over his profit margin. His shoe ventures are entirely different from those of his NBA contemporaries, and they’re making him a pretty penny in the process.

O’Neal has gone from an NBA star known for his impressive height to a business mogul with an investment portfolio and multiple ranges of affordable basketball shoes for kids.

Explore More: Tall Icons and Big-Size Shoe Stories

Even beyond Shaquille O’Neal’s legendary size 22 shoes, pop culture is full of fascinating contrasts — from towering leading men to petite powerhouses who prove that height has nothing to do with impact. These Your Next Shoes features dive into how body proportions, footwear design, and brand innovation intersect across sports, fashion, and celebrity style.