Quick Take:
- Shaquille O’Neal’s son is launching a series of NFTs.
- Shareef O’Neal signed a long-term NIL deal with NFT Genius.
- The NFTs series will include the entire O’Neal family.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Son Shareef O’Neal has become the latest athlete to venture into the NFTs market. The LSU Tigers player signed a long-term NIL deal with NFT Genius to launch a series of NFTs about his life and the O’Neal family. The NFTs will be based on the O’Neal family’s shared love of sports and inspiring others.
A NIL deal is a contractual agreement allowing college athletes to make money from the fame, made possible by a recent adjustment in the NCAA rules.
O’Neal’s announcement comes at the back of the University of Pacific’s basketball player, Pierre Crockrell II’s non-NFT NIL deal with the Minor League Baseball team Stockton Ports. The two deals could pave the way for more collaborations amid a celebrity-driven interest in the NFT market space.
In announcing the deal, O’Neal said that he sees NFTs as an innovative medium of bringing the modern fan along his life’s journey. The college athlete said he will reward everyone who secures his first NFTs of the things that he is passionate about including, basketball, music, and giving back.
“We have a lot of surprises in store including winning signed memorabilia, free airdrops, and access to some cool experiences with me and my family,” the LSU forward said.
O’Neil wants to use the NFTs to raise funds for a cause he cares about through the American Heart Foundation (AHF). The athlete survived a life-threatening heart defect when he was a freshman.
One of his collections will include an exclusive NFT celebrating the organization dedicated to reducing death caused by heart disease and stroke.
O’Neil promised fans that join his journey lots of exciting gifts and rewards. “This is my first time, my NFT debut! I’ve got all sorts of exclusive experiences and prizes for the fans that join me and my family Day 1 in this journey. It is just the beginning for the O’Neal Family.”
Celebrities have embraced NFTs to share different stories about their lives. Last week, jailed Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht dropped his own NFT based on his lifetime drawing and writings, while Snoop Dogg also launched a collage of photos taken at different stages of his music career.
The influx of popular people in the industry is tipped to boost NFT sales to about $17.7 billion this year, eclipsing last year’s figure of about $340 million several times.
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