Source: Gilbert Flores/Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty
Angel Reese invited her mentor and Reebok boss Shaquille O’Neal to a sit-down on her Unapologetically Angel podcast and things got creepy.
Though the episode covered a litany of topics, the conversation took a turn when the NBA champion started sharing his thoughts on how the WNBA can be more entertaining. Though the league just finished one of its most popular and profitable seasons, it seems that many still think the game has some missing pieces. In O’Neal‘s eyes, the ladies’ inability to dunk is holding them back…as well as their sex appeal.
“Imagine you in them same little shorts you had at the Wild N’ Out show dunking,” he said. “You know how many t-shirts you would sell, you trippin’. If you just lower it like that to where it gives you the ability to dunk. A lot of people are going to comment, they going to hate this, but I know exactly what I’m talking about, that’s the only thing missing!”
The comments seemed to come out of nowhere and were extra weird considering the 52-year-old has largely taken on a role of mentorship in the young athlete’s life. They share a similar background as they both led LSU to national championships and O’Neal signed Reese to a NIL deal with Reebok even before she went pro. Reese also had the NBA legend walk her out at her senior night for her final season.
Social media, rightfully, called Shaq to the carpet for the disturbing behavior as well as the troubling professional dynamics that could arise between the two of them.
Of course, the misogynists and “pick-me”-s were out in droves to defend Shaq’s comments as just playful banter between two people who share a close relationship but mostly social media has dragged him for them.
Shaq has yet to respond to the backlash but here’s to hoping that he’s reevaluating how he handled himself on the podcast. Reese is set to release her first signature shoe with Reebok in 2026 where O’Neal currently serves as President of Basketball alongside fellow NBA icon, Allen Iverson.
Watch the full episode of Shaq’s interview with Angel Reese on Unapologetically Angel below.