Allen Iverson couldn’t hold back tears when speaking about his relationship with Shaquille O’Neal.
In an interview with People, the NBA Hall of Famer cried while describing the four-time NBA champion as a ‘big brother’ and mentor.
Iverson’s passionate description of his affection for O’Neal came amid a discussion of their new docuseries.
The pair are being followed as part of a Netflix show called Power Moves which is about the rebranding of Reebok Basketball by O’Neal and Iverson.
“I love him so much,” he said.
“I don’t want to be up here crying and sh*t, you know what I mean? I just love him. He’s a big brother, a mentor and just everything you’re supposed to be as a man.
“I love his family. I love how he raised his kids. I learned from him… he’s just a beautiful guy. I can’t talk about him.”
Iverson was appointed Vice President of Reebok Basketball last October and serves under O’Neal who is the President.
Their relationship stems back to Reebok’s peak in the late 1990s and 2000s when the pair were synonymous with the apparel and sneaker brand.
Iverson once left Shaq speechless with his all-time NBA starting five.
They have never been on the same team but were both selected multiple times for the NBA All-Star Game at the same time.
They did face-off in the 2001 NBA Finals when O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers team defeated Iverson’s Philadelphia 76ers 4-1.
Iverson also went into detail about how him and O’Neal are looking to give back to Reebok, especially since they put him on the map.
“I know what Reebok did for me,” he said.
“I know what Reebok did for my family. I know what Reebok did for the culture. I know how Reebok blessed me and gave me a chance. And for me to give back is only right.”
It was Reebok that gave Iverson his iconic sneaker back in 1996 and now he believes that Angel Reese can replicate a similar impact.
WNBA star Reese has an impressive business empire that includes sneaker deals and a women’s soccer team.
“I love everything about her,” he said.
“I love what she stands for. She reminds me of my little sister. She’s dope to me. She reminds me of myself — hoop-wise and on a personal level, too.”
Nowadays, Iverson cuts a more happy figure, a contrast to the grit and intensity he competed with as a player.
He admitted he is in a new chapter of his life, one he is ecstatic to share.
“I’m just happy about the people in my life that helped me, and my maturation,” he added.
“The people that I know love me, and they show it, they really, really show it to me. I think it’s just a beautiful life.”
