Blank pixel used during image takedowns
Tomorrow marks the return of one of the most unforgettable sneakers ever created, the Reebok Shaqnosis. Shaquille O'Neal's fifth signature sneaker (not including the equally unforgettable Shaq sandals), the Shaqnosis was a bold design for a big man, the hypnotizing upper being particularly effective in Shaq's own size 20-plus. Now, 18 years after the initial release, the Shaqnosis is set to return for the first time this week. Before you cop, check out 20 Things You Didn't Know About the Reebok Shaqnosis and study up.
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The Shaqnosis was designed by Jonathan Morris, who also designed the Kamikaze II.
The Shaqnosis wasn't the first significant sneaker sequel Reebok designer Jonathan Morris did for the company. The Kamikaze II was his, as was Michael Chang's Court Victory II.
The Shaqnosis wasn't originally designed for Shaq.
What would become the Shaqnosis started as a design exercise within advanced concepts, to come up with a new form of cushioning with the whole style built around it. The concentric circles represented ripples spreading outward from the center, and the stark black and white colorway was for maximum contrast. It was meant to catch the eye, and it sure did.
The Shaqnosis didn't use any design cues from the previous model.
As the 5th signature shoe with Reebok, you would think the Shaqnosis would carry over some of the design details and tooling from previous models. However, Shaq and Reebok started fresh with the Shaqnosis. As it turns out, the choice turned out to e a good one, despite how much we'd like to see the Shaq Attaq IV retro.
Shaq's would-be next signature shoe wound up going to Emmitt Smith.
When Reebok head honcho Paul Fireman saw Jonathan Morris's initial ellipses-based design sketch, he decided that it would become Shaq's next signature shoe, and that Shaq's would-be next signature shoe, designed by E. Scott Morris, would go to Emmitt Smith.
The Shaqnosis inspired sneaker designs outside of basketball.
Shaq has always been big but did you know he was such an influencer? The Shaqnosis became so popular and easily recognizable that the style spread to other sports like baseball. Reebok's team created the Big Hurt for Frank Thomas (not to be confused with his beer of the same name), and it shared the monochromatic colorway and stood out as much on the diamond as the Shaqnosis did on court.
The original tooling had to be completely recreated for the retro.
Talk about starting from scratch. Since nothing was saved from the original, the team at Reebok had to recreate the Shaqnosis essentially from looking at an old sample that designer Jonathan Morris brought in from his own collection.
The Shaqnosis was featured on Shaq's MTV Cribs episode.
Even years after its release, the Shaqnosis was still Shaq's favorite sneaker. In fact, while MTV Cribs was airing, and Shaq was wearing bright yellow light-up sneakers, he still pulled a pair of the Shaqnosis from the closet to proclaim them as his favorites.
Shaq was robbed in San Antonio wearing the Shaqnosis.
Despite a game high of 25pts and 10 rebounds in the 1996 All Star game while wearing the Shaqnosis, the MVP award was given to another player who had spent his previous two All Star games playing baseball.
The Shaqnosis was a love it or hate it shoe.
So much so in fact, Reebok only made one colorway. You either liked or not. Most people did. Or they were hypnotized to believe so.
The Shaqnosis inspired footwear for other Reebok athletes like Nick Van Exel.
Nick Van Exel may be better remembered for his temper by basketball fans but for sneakerheads, he was the face of the Reebok Blast. The Shaqnosis was actually the inspiration for the design and black and white colorway of the Reebok Blast. Ironically, Shaq and Van Exel would end up on the same Lakers team the next season.
The Shaqnosis was used to hypnotize opposing defenders.
OK, so maybe that's an exaggeration, but the design of the Shaqnosis was mesmerizing. The black and white colorway was a head-turner on the court and we're pretty sure some of the players he posterized during the 1995-1996 season would like to blame something other than their own shitty defense.
The Shaqnosis was a crime-fighter's best friend.
Alien crime fighters, that is. Will Smith wore the Reebok Shaqnosis in the movie Men In Black. Although it would have been a perfect sneaker for his black and white suit, he wore it before signing up to be Tommy Lee Jones' partner, so we're not sure if he even remembers it.
The Shaqnosis was the key to world domination.
Shaq wasn't chosen for the original Dream Team-hi, Christian Laettner-but he did play on ensuing Team USA squads, in the 1994 World Championships and the 1996 Olympics. He actually wore the Preacher in '96, but in most promo photos he was decked out in the Shaqnosis. Hypnotize.
Shaqnosis designer Jonathan Morris also designed the take-downs that emerged from the Shaqnosis.
Typically, takedowns of a shoe (for GS and infant sizes) are done by kids-specific designers. But Jonathan Morris wanted to see his project all the way through. "I learned how to simplify the pattern and what kinds of materials to use for an infant and child," he told Sole Collector, "and it was really fun."
There were multiple versions of the Shaqnosis.
The version made available to the public may not have Pump or Insta Pump technology but there were a few variations of the Shaqnosis made. Shaq had the high-cut version with the Insta Pump on the outer ankle but there was also a version with the Pump mechanism on the tongue.
The Shaqnosis was the last sneaker the big fella wore with the Magic.
Shaq may have been the best thing to ever happen to the Orlando Magic but everything comes to an end. While O'Neal and Penny Hardaway made for some of the most memorable basketball the gmae has ever seen, Shaq wanted the ring. The Shaqnosis would be the last sneaker he laced up while wearing the pinstripes of the Orlando Magic.
There was once a Shaqnosis that scared the entire sneaker community.
Yeah, 2012 frightened us all. The Shaqnosis is one of those sneakers that's too perfect to mess with and when people saw the samples of the Shaqnosis 2012 with "updated" tooling, the sneaker community reacted loudly enough that Swizz Beatz took to Twitter to announce that the 2012 version would not be produced, but rather, the original would be retroed instead.
Performance helped make the Shaqnosis a classic.
We preach a lot about the importance of a sneaker having to do with what was done in it, rather than the hype surrounding it. The Shaqnosis had the perfect mix of both. Sure it was head-turning and buzzworthy but Shaq averaged nearly 27 points, 11 boards and over 2 blocks per game and led the Orlando Magic to a 60-22 record, the best the franchise has ever had.
Shaq was integrally involved in the design and functionality of the Shaqnosis.
Shaq has always been a man who knows what he wants and he's also a man of many hats. Just like he was with previous models, Shaquille O'Neal was heavily involved in the design process of the Shaqnosis. We're pretty sure he left the sketches to the designers, though.
Shaq's pairs of the Shaqnosis were better than yours.
While the original version released at retail is true to the retro version being released on July 12th, Shaq's exclusive version for on-court use was actually transformed into a higher cut model and included Instapump technology.