Shaquille O’Neal Becomes Brand Ambassador for DraftKings

The NBA Hall of Famer and one of the most well-known basketball players in the world, Shaquille O’Neal, has become an ambassador for DraftKings, America’s top sportsbook and casino company.

Photo: Shaquille O’Neal (screenshot youtube.com/@lakers)

As the US top sportsbook and casino brand’s ambassador, Shaquille O’Neal, the 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002) and NBA Most Valuable Player (2000), has joined DraftKings. In his new position, “Shaq” will use his status as one of America’s most adored sportsmen by both fans and outsiders to promote DraftKings’ name and share his knowledge and perspective on the basketball world through a variety of media opportunities and activations. The former center for six NBA teams, who has the biggest impact on the L.A. Lakers, teased fans at the announcement by saying, “Some people call me Shaq, but you can call me Mr. DraftKings”.

DraftKings and its biggest rival for, among other currency bets, dollar bets, FanDuel are engaged in fierce competition to gain a larger portion of the US sports betting market (DraftKings is currently leading with almost one-third of the gaming revenue in the United States) at a time when international brands are fleeing and the competition is shrinking as a result of being driven out of expensive markets that make it more difficult for anyone other than the duopoly to dominate.

It’s not particularly strange for O’Neal to endorse a company. During and after his NBA career, he has already endorsed over 100 companies, including Nestlé, Oreo, Burger King, PepsiCo, and many more. The basketball player himself has accumulated an impressive fortune of over $330 million, and he has demonstrated the ability to use his influence to help establish companies and find new business prospects for himself.

Sportsbooks Are Very Much Interested in Using Celebrities

Meanwhile, it’s not unexpected that athletes have partnered with big sports betting sites like Caesars, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

DraftKings has already attempted to collaborate with basketball players. But, first, they added David Ortiz, the well-known baseball player known to his followers as “Big Papi”, and then LeBron James as another brand ambassador from the basketball sphere.

Other companies haven’t lagged in their attempts to capitalize on other athletes’ celebrity status; for instance, Jordan Spieth (golf) and Rob Gronkowski (American football) for FanDuel or Kevin Garnett (basketball) and Wayne Gretzky (hockey) for BetMGM. O’Neal will be just one more person in this extensive attempt by celebrities to rally support for sports betting companies vying for market share.