Shaq is into the snack.
The former Miami Heat star and South Florida reserve police officer is the face behind a line of snacks and candy that just launched a new variety.
Shaquille O’Neal announced this week that the new year brings Shaq-a-licious SLAMS snacks to South Florida Publix, Walmart and 7-Eleven stores. They’re modeled after basketball hoops.
“People always told me, ‘Don’t play with your food.’ ” O’Neal, 53, said in a statement. “With SLAMS, I’m telling everybody: Go ahead and play with your candy.”
Shaq partnered with candy company Hershey in 2024 to release the first variety of Shaq-a-licious fruit snacks as a Walmart exclusive. He even returned to South Florida to promote the launch at the store.
The latest Shaq SLAMS snacks consist of Shaq-a-licious gummy pieces in orange, strawberry and watermelon flavors coated with sweet, crunchy candy. Mango-flavored hoops are included to “dunk” the gummy pieces into, just as Shaq used to dunk basketballs.
O’Neal has become as famous for his business acumen as he is for his Hall of Fame pro basketball career. The seven-foot-one Shaq played with the Heat 2004-08 and won an NBA championship with Dwyane Wade in 2006. Shaq also could be seen around town as a reserve police officer for Doral, Golden Beach and Miami Beach.
Now, O’Neal is a philanthropist, TV pitch person — and candy man.
In addition to stores, the Shaq-a-licious snacks are available online at hersheyland.com/shaqalicious.