Shaq’s Son, LSU Forward Shareef O’Neal, Releasing NFTs on His Life And Basketball

The son of NBA corridor of famer Shaquille O’Neal, Shareef O’Neal, is making a grand slam entrance into the world of crypto. 

The coed athlete at Louisiana State College signed a long-term identify, picture and likeness (NIL) take care of NFT Genius—a cryptocurrency start-up backed by the Dallas Mavericks proprietor Mark Cuban, actor Ashton Kutcher and different traders. 

O’Neal, 21, might be releasing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as part of NFT Genius’ BALLERZ assortment, which incorporates 10,000 basketball-themed NFTs. The 6-foot-10 ahead is utilizing the undertaking to share particulars about his private life, along with his basketball profession. 

“I see NFTs as an modern medium to deliver followers alongside my life’s journey — to hitch me and my household via our personal successes and struggles and convey consciousness to causes which might be necessary to me,” O’Neal mentioned, in accordance to Forbes. 

He continued, “We need to reward everybody who secures my first NFTs that can replicate these issues I’m most enthusiastic about — basketball, music, and giving again. We’ve got a whole lot of surprises in retailer together with successful signed memorabilia, free air drops, and entry to some cool experiences with me and my household.”

O’Neal’s first NFT within the assortment is scheduled to launch on Dec. 13. 

On that day in 2018, he underwent open-heart surgical procedure after being recognized with a proper anomalous coronary artery—a beginning defect that brought on an artery to develop within the flawed place, USA At present reported. 

“It’s scary,” he informed USA TODAY Sports activities. “It’s one thing I’ve considered most likely 100 instances a day ever because it occurred. Each time I alter my shirt, I see this huge scar.”

When Forbes requested him how he felt about NFTs when he was approached with the deal, he mentioned he was excited and plans to make use of it as a platform to have a bigger dialog about his well being advocacy. 

“I’m right here for it! I feel NFTs are that new wave and it’s actually a means give energy to creators that need to innovate,” he informed Forbes. “I can’t wait to make use of my NFTs to attach with followers and lift funds for a trigger that I care about via my partnership with American Coronary heart Affiliation.”