After spending four seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he was selected first overall by the team during the 1992 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal departed the Magic and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. The 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year led the Magic to the Finals in 1995, joined the Lakers, and high school standout Kobe Bryant to form the nucleus of a Lakers' team that would become an NBA dynasty during the early 21st century. O'Neal would miss 30 games to injury during the 1996-97 season, averaging 26.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, with the Lakers making the playoffs. O'Neal showed signs of his impact when he recorded 46 points against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first round of the playoffs, the most points by a Lakers player since Jerry West.

These presented size 22 Reebok sneakers were signed and worn by Shaquille O'Neal during the 1996-97 NBA season, his first with the Lakers. The sneakers feature a white and purple colorway with purple rubber soles inlaid with white and feature the Reebok logo imprinted on white between two air vents. Air vents appear on the mudguard of each sneaker on the instep and outstep. The Reebok logo appears in purple on the outside upper of each sneaker. Purple piping runs on the tongue to the upper. The white heel tag features purple piping. O'Neal signed and inscribed the number "34" with a black marker on the inside upper of the right sneaker and the left sneaker's lateral side. The signature and inscription are bold. The sneakers feature excellent signs of game use, including marks on the toe box, toecap, and cracking of the upper leather. The game used, signed, and inscribed sneakers worn by Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal during the 1996-97 season come with an LOA from MEARS (317779), an LOA's from JSA (BB38431-left sneaker, BB38432-right sneaker) and a COA from PSA/DNA (AI24779).

Auction Notepad