Purchase-Based Pepsi Has Shaq Wishing He Was 'A Little Bit Smaller'

PURCHASE, NY — Shaq is still a baller, but it turns out, the star of a popular ad series doesn't want to be "a little bit taller."

Purchase-based Pepsi said it is continuing its 125th anniversary celebration by reuniting with Shaquille O'Neal, whose countless Pepsi commercials were a hit throughout the 90s, to unveil a brand-new commercial that highlights Pepsi Mini cans.

In the new spot, Shaq wishes he was "a little bit smaller" when faced with the everyday perils of his famously larger-than-life size. In the end, the basketball legend conveniently discovers that Pepsi Mini cans are always the perfect size.

The spot, titled "I Wish," shows Shaq in various environments where a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t exactly work: from sitting comfortably in airplanes, to fitting in a bed properly without his feet hanging off, or just casually walking through doorways.

The new spot's tongue-in-cheek montage is helped along thanks in part to a cameo appearance from Skee-Lo, who lays down updated lyrics to parody his famous 1995 hip-hop hit, "I Wish I Was A Little Bit Taller."

The ad that offers a life lesson about being careful what you wish for, draws inspiration from classic Pepsi and Shaq campaigns — especially the "Big Slam" spot from 1994. The juxtaposition of a larger-than-life Shaq lamenting life’s smaller situations doesn’t stop him from showing love to Pepsi Mini cans.

"As a longtime partner of the brand, I always have a great time working with Pepsi," Shaq explained. "It was incredibly fun to create the 'I Wish' commercial, showing how things could be better if I were indeed a little bit smaller. With Pepsi Mini Cans, I can enjoy every sip and appreciate the little things in life."

Pepsi aficionados who wish they were a little bit taller, wish they were a baller or wish they had a girl who looked good, so they could call her, can get in on the action.

Starting on November 20, fans can post a photo of their favorite snack or meal and a Pepsi mini can on social media tagging #BetterWithPepsiMinis #Sweepstakes and @Pepsi to enter for a chance to win an Official NBA Basketball signed by Shaquille O’Neal. There will be just a handful of lucky winners.

"In the 90s when my hit 'I Wish' first came out, it was all about 'bigger is better'—whether it was being taller, having larger t-shirts or shorts," said Skee-Lo said. "Everyone in my neighborhood wanted to be a larger-than-life basketball star…but now we've got the biggest, baddest dude in the game, Shaq, to flip my song on its head and show how smaller is actually better with Pepsi Mini Cans."

Fans can watch the new commercial on the Pepsi YouTube channel right now here. Additionally, the commercial will air during select national NBA games on ESPN and TNT starting November 22, and during NBC's primetime NFL slate on Thanksgiving Day.