Most people have wondered, How big is Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe size? With a size 10.5 as the most common men’s shoe in the United States, how much bigger is Shaq’s shoe size? The facts are hard to believe!
While the average man wears around a size 10, the most common size in the NBA is between a size 13 and 14. Both sizes are often hard to find in your neighborhood shoe store! With Shaq towering over most players, it’s expected his feet would sport one of the biggest shoe sizes in NBA history.
Read on to learn all you need to know about Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe size, his innovative shoe deals, and his famous feet.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Basketball Career & Net Worth
Standing at 7 feet, 1 inch tall, Shaquille “Big Diesel” O’Neal dominated the court until he retired from the National Basketball League in 2011. Born in 1972, Shaq went on to earn College Player of the Year for Louisiana State in 1991 before leaving school to enter the NBA.
Shaq started playing for the Orlando Magic in 1992, before signing a 7-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would win three championships alongside Kobe Bryant. O’Neal then played for the Miami Heat from 2004 to 2008, where he won a fourth championship with Dwyane Wade. He followed that up with stops in Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston.
After retiring from a hall of fame career spanning 19 years, Shaq is now a professional basketball analyst and global brand representative. Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth is estimated at around $400 million in 2021.
Shaq’s Shoe Size and Other Facts
While not one of the tallest to play ball, Shaq’s weight made him one of the heaviest. By the end of his career, Shaq weighed in at 359 pounds (163kg). Only one other player tipped the scales more than him!
Being so tall and heavy means Shaq needs a sturdy set of feet to keep him going. With one of the largest shoe sizes to ever play in the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal wears a size 22! He previously stated his feet started out around a size 20 when he entered the NBA. However, after years of wearing poorly fitted shoes, his feet expanded.
Shaquille O’Neal’s found it very difficult to find shoes that fit his giant feet before he became a famous baller. As a teenager, he tried soaking his Nike Air Jordans in hot water to stretch them, but it didn’t work. He stated that playing in these too-tight shoes, a size 15, contributed to his mangled feet later in life.
Shaq’s shoes when compared to other famous basketball players shows just how enormous his feet are. Michael Jordan wore a size 13, Kobe Bryant wore a size 14, and LeBron James wears a 15.
The length of a size 22 shoe is an epic 16 inches! That’s the size of a bowling pin or a car tire rim! At twice the length of the average human head, Shaq’s feet are massive!
Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe size in the UK is size 56. You cannot find shoes off the rack for this size. Most retailers don’t carry shoes over the size 13, with larger sizes up to 18 available with a custom order.
Shaq’s Shoes in Pop Culture
Photos of Shaq’s mangled feet have become a legendary meme around the internet. After years of growing and playing in shoes that didn’t fit properly, Shaquille O’Neal ended up suffering from chronic foot issues during his professional career. Bone spurs and overlapping toes are extremely painful and make a properly fitting shoe harder to find.
Doctored images of his tootsies were shared widely to poke fun at Shaq’s unsightly toes after he purposely showcased his foot on camera. He joined in on the joke in 2017, after his TNT co-host, Ernie Johnson, referred to his feet as a “baked potato toe.”
Shaq challenged meme-makers by getting a pedicure and painting the ‘baked potatoes’ a respectable shade of metallic blue! The after-photo he shared of the pedicure then started a whole new round of meme laughs.
The press from this toe-sharing incident took over the internet. Countless articles were written at the public’s shock of the closeup of O’Neal’s giant feet. Even his own son tweeted an apology for the eyesore!
The Most Famous Of Shaq’s Shoes
In 1992, Shaquille O’Neal signed with Reebok in his rookie year for a shoe line. Shaq’s very first signature shoes were called the Shaq Attaq. The shoe featured a carbon filter, Reebok Pump System, and suede and leather uppers. The Shaq Attaq shoe ran for four years, with Reebok launching throwback editions recently.
O’Neal eventually went on to cut ties with Reebok and start his own athletic brand, Shaq, that included affordable shoes. Originally made by Payless Shoes, Shaq wore many of these affordable kicks during NBA games. Sporting his size 22 budget shoes showed fans around the world they don’t need to blow hundreds of dollars to make it to the big leagues.
The Payless shoes retailed for less than $40. He created the budget-friendly line because of the inspiration of families everywhere who can’t afford luxury-priced athletic shoes. He later teamed with Walmart for a kid’s line called Dunkman.
Knowing himself how hard it is to find affordable and well-fitting shoes for kids, the Dunkman line has sold over $200 million worth of affordable shoes.
As a champion of affordable children’s athletic gear, Shaq also likes to rip on his competition for what he views as price gauging. In a tweet aimed at Lonzo Ball, whose shoes retailed at over $400, O’Neal claims true ballers don’t “overcharge kids.”
The man with the oversized feet also has an oversized heart!
Learn More About Famous Athletes
It is no surprise that Shaq’s shoe size is one of the largest in NBA history. As one of the biggest and baddest to play the game, having a sturdy shoe is necessary. All of Shaq’s shoes are custom made to accommodate their enormous length and abnormal width.
Learning about Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe size is interesting, but knowing he has helped so many young people afford basketball shoes is even better! Total Sports Pro keeps you informed on the top stars daily!
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