Netflix: Shaq’s Power Moves Addresses NIL, Branding & Life After Sports

netflix nil shaq Jun 24, 2025

Shaquille O’Neal’s Netflix series Power Moves goes deeper than you’d expect.

Across six episodes, it’s not just about athletes making headlines, it’s about athletes making decisions that define their futures.

This show delivers what most NIL platforms and highlight reels don’t: real talk. And if you’re an athlete (or someone guiding one), this series needs to be required viewing.

Allen Iverson Changed the Game, Literally

We talk about Iverson in The Warm-Up during a Power Play titled "Brand the Person, Not Just the Player." Because he didn’t just show up to play. He showed up to shift culture.

Allen Iverson broke the mold, from braids and tattoos to his unapologetic press conferences and game-day swagger. He brought streetwear into the arena. He made raw authenticity part of the athlete brand before branding was even a conversation.

He didn’t try to fit in, he made the world adjust to him. That’s why people connected. He wasn’t just representing basketball, he was representing a generation.

Identity Without the Jersey

One of the strongest themes throughout the series is the question: who are athletes when the game stops? If it’s injury, aging out, or just being overlooked, every athlete hits a wall. Power Moves forces you to think about:

What you value beyond the sport

The beliefs, priorities, and passions that matter to athletes outside of athletics, like family, community, creativity, or education.

What athletes sacrifice to play (family, time, mental health)

The personal costs that come with being an athlete, missed milestones, emotional strain, limited downtime, or distance from loved ones.

What happens when the crowd stops cheering

The moment when attention fades and the sport is no longer center stage, and how athletes handle identity, purpose, and the next phase of life.

Publishing with Purpose

Every episode highlights how today’s athletes are public figures first, players second. Brands are watching. The media is watching. What you post, say, or ignore matters.

As the Athlete:

Are you publishing with intention?

Are you sharing content with a clear purpose that aligns with your goals, or just posting without thinking it through?

Are you telling your story, or letting someone else control it?

Are you actively shaping how the world sees you, or allowing the media, recruiters, or brands to define your image?

Are you building a presence that outlives your stats?

Are you creating something online that stays relevant even after your athletic career ends, like a brand, message, or mission people remember?

This aligns perfectly with what we teach in The Warm-Up course: athletes need to own their narrative before someone else does.

NIL and Long-Term Strategy

Shaq’s spotlight on Reebok shows what long-term NIL strategy can look like. He’s not just handing out deals, he’s building futures.

Look at who’s on board:

Angel Reese (Chicago Sky): Reebok’s first NIL signing, face of Engine A
Lexie Brown (Los Angeles Sparks): Veteran presence rejoining the brand
DiJonai Carrington (Dallas Wings): Multi-year deal, own logoed sneaker
Dink Pate (G League): First pro signing under Shaq and Iverson
Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls rookie): Young talent with global appeal
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas commit): Top recruit brought in early

This isn’t random, these signings are part of a bigger story: legacy-building.

And it reflects something bigger:

Women’s sports are gaining ground fast.
Brands are shifting attention to long-term growth, not just short-term hype.

WNBA: A Quick Look

The WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) was founded in 1996 and launched in 1997. It’s the longest-running professional women’s sports league in the U.S.

Over 36 million U.S. viewers tuned in to WNBA games in 2023.
The 2023 WNBA Draft was the most-watched in over a decade.
NIL signings tied to WNBA stars are outpacing many of their male counterparts.

Reebok signing top WNBA athletes isn’t just marketing, it’s a signal. The game is changing, and the world is finally watching.

Missed Opportunities and Long Game Thinking

The series makes it clear: talent alone isn’t enough. Athletes miss out every day by:

Choosing colleges based on hype, not fit

Many athletes pick schools with big names or flashy programs, not realizing that the culture, coaching, or opportunities may not align with their goals.

Ignoring their brand until it’s too late

Your brand starts before you go pro. Waiting to shape it until after college means missed deals, weak presence, and lost leverage.

Saying yes to short-term deals without understanding long-term value

A quick check now might cost you future opportunities. Not all deals are good deals, especially if they hurt your long-term reputation or limit future partnerships.

Every decision you make, from the school you pick to the post you share, affects your path. That’s why you can’t afford to guess.

We Need a Season Two

Power Moves opens the door for conversations athletes aren’t having enough. We hope it comes back for another round, and dives even deeper into brand-building, financial literacy, deal negotiation, and what success really looks like beyond the sport.

Watch the Show. Then Take Action.

Power Moves sets the tone, but it’s up to you to follow through.

If you're serious about:

Discover your identity

Figure out who you are outside of your sport, your values, interests, and what you stand for.

Build a real personal brand

Use that identity to shape how you show up online and in-person, so brands and fans know exactly what you’re about.

Publish with purpose

Post content that reflects your goals, personality, and message, not just highlights or trends.

Monetize your knowledge

Turn your experience and story into something valuable, if it’s a digital product, speaking opportunity, or new role after sports.

Then sign up for The Warm-Up. It's free, it’s narrated, and it connects you with veteran agents, athletes, and digital strategists who will help you build something that lasts.