Andrew Rizzo Beyond being one of the best NBA centers of all time, Shaquille O’Neal is a shrewd businessman and a man of the people — two parts of his identity that were on full display at Basketball City in New York the other day. Shaq celebrated the launch of his new sneaker-shaped Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies, created by Hershey, with a lively community event featuring sneaker giveaways, New York basketball personalities, and most importantly, the people.
Adding to a product line that already includes gummies shaped like Shaq’s head, the new pack features candy modeled after Shaq Footwear sneakers — specifically the Shaq Devastator. Adding an extra element of sweetness, Shaq and company also gave away limited pairs of the Devastator in green, red, and orange colorways at the event, matching the colors of the three gummy flavors. Those in attendance could compete in basketball challenges for a chance at a “golden ticket” to claim a pair from a branded Shaq-a-licious truck parked outside. The sneakers came packaged in blind boxes styled like gummy packets, meaning you didn’t know which of the three colorways you’d get.
New York street baller George “The Messiah” Papoutsis — known well around the West 4th Street Cages — was also in attendance, giving us a viral moment when Shaq scored on him with a baby hook to a rousing ovation from the crowd.
The sneaker-shaped Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies are available now from most major grocery and drugstores. See images of the event at Basketball City below.
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
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- Claudio de la Rosa Photo
