Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal is bringing his signature slam dunk energy and intensity to the candy aisle with the launch of Shaq-A-Licious SLAMS, a new interactive gummy candy developed in partnership with The Hershey Company.
What makes it interactive, you ask? Let us explain.
The latest addition to the popular Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies line features three crunchy, sweet gummy “balls” in watermelon, strawberry, and orange flavors, paired with a chewy, sour mango-flavored “ring” designed to resemble a basketball hoop.
Remember how Mama always told you not to play with your food? Well, Shaq is saying go for it. Dunk the balls into the hoop. Mix the flavors. Enjoy your own customized bite.
“When I do something, I want it big! Big flavor, big fun, big everything,” O’Neal said in a statement. “With Shaq-A-Licious
SLAMS, you are not just grabbing a gummy and tossing it in your mouth. You’re stacking the balls, aiming for the mango ring, shooting your shot, then going in for that big sweet and sour chew.”
“People always told me, ‘Don’t play with your food,'” the Big Aristotle added. “With SLAMS, I’m telling everybody: go ahead and play with your candy. Stack it, slam it, snack it–and if you miss the shot, you still get the bucket.”
Who knew gummy candies could be this fun? I’ll tell you who. The Big Diesel. Shaq Fu, baby. That’s who.
When Will We See the Shaquille O’Neal Gummy?
The launch of the new Shaquille O’Neal gummy, according to the press release, builds on the success of the Shaq-A-Licious brand, which debuted in 2024 and became Hershey’s top sweets launch of the year.
Previous varieties include face-shaped Original gummies (which are simply amazing), sour gummies inspired by O’Neal’s nicknames (Diesel, The Big Cactus, and The Big Shamrock), and sneaker-shaped gummies added in 2025.
Vivek Mehrotra, Senior Brand Manager for Shaq-A-Licious at The Hershey Company, called SLAMS a “game-changer” that transforms ordinary snacking into a hands-on experience. He, too, could not stop praising the playful experience exclusively in the new Shaquille O’Neal gummy line.
“Stacking crunchy gummy balls inside a sour mango ring creates a multi-textural bite unlike anything else in the gummy aisle,” Mehrotra said. “The balls and hoop format transforms candy into a hands-on experience—inviting fans to build, play, and personalize every piece.”
“With Shaquille’s vision shaping every detail, SLAMS delivers a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensorial adventure that
grabs your attention the instant you open the bag.”
Now for the important part. When can you get your hands on these incredible candies and start playing?
Shaq-A-Licious SLAMS roll out to retailers nationwide starting this month. They can also be purchased online here.
The Big Scientist
O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer turned entrepreneur, continues to expand his “Business of Fun” empire, which includes restaurants, music, and philanthropy through The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation.
Now, with the Shaquille O’Neal gummy line, he is even getting into the business of creating in the laboratory, like some sort of slam-dunking mad scientist.
Check it out …
Shaquille O’Neal was the most dominant center in his era, winning four NBA championships. He was a 15-time All-Star, who earned three Finals MVP awards and led the league in field goal percentage ten times during his 19-year career.
He was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Now, he’s an icon of the candy industry.