This is big. Which is why a national retailer based in Edmonton held a kick-off event on Wednesday to announce it is selling a basketball legend’s new line of furniture designed for the big-and-tall crowd. The Brick hosted Shaquille O’Neal – all 7-foot-1 and 325 pounds of him – Wednesday morning at the Edmonton Convention Centre, where the big-box retailer of furniture, appliances, mattresses and electronics and the National Basketball Association (NBA) great announced it will feature the Shaqopedic line in its stores starting in May. Shaqopedic products, designed for large people, include two different modular immersive sectionals, a premium leather immersive recliner and a leather power reclining sofa. O’Neal was reportedly spotted Tuesday at a Sherwood Park retaurant. The 54-year-old American is one of the most recognizable figures in basketball and U.S. popular culture. The centre out of Louisiana State University exploded onto the NBA scene as the top pick in the 1992 draft by the Orlando Magic, establishing himself as one of the dominant figures in the league at the time alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. The Hall-of-Famer starred for six NBA teams over his 19-year pro career, winning championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (three) and Miami Heat (one), earning 15 all-star nominations, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles and a league MVP nod. His number was retired by three of his teams. O’Neal also won basketball gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with the U.S. men’s team. O’Neal, an analyst on the popular sports television panel Inside the NBA alongside Barkley, Kenny (The Jet) Smith and host Ernie Johnson, has also starred in several movies and reality shows, and established himself as a recording artist, releasing four rap albums, touring as a DJ and serving as a producer of electronic music. He also frequently stars in television ads, including recent turns selling Epson printer ink products, IcyHot palm relief balm, Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal and Gold Bond skin care items. O’Neal also has a tie to the Edmonton Oilers. During the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs, O’Neal twice joined a U.S. NHL broadcast under the ‘Shaq Hyman’ moniker, a nod to Oilers winger Zach Hyman. Hyman, who had scored a team-leading 54 goals that regular season, himself once earned the nickname ‘Shaq Hyman’ while playing in the minors because of his knack for scoring ‘in the paint’ at the goalie crease, something O’Neal was also known to do at the basketball key.
