Shaquille O'Neal has accomplished a lot during his prolific basketball career, but there's one milestone on his friend Angel Reese's resume that he wishes he had, too.
O'Neal recently spoke on “The Big Podcast with Shaq” about the Chicago Sky's star forward, and how he hopes to win the first championship in women's basketball program history before the Lady Tigers celebrate in 2023. He praised Reese for his contribution. The parade honor was an honor the four-time NBA champion did not receive during his college days playing in Baton Rogue.
“I named her the greatest athlete at LSU and a lot of people were furious that she was the first person to bring a championship to this arena on the basketball side,” O’Neal said. said.
“We're judged on championships, not on yards and points and broken backboards and things like that. So when I said that then, I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, she was our I tried to give her props because she did something I wanted to do but couldn't do.”
When O'Neal focused on LSU's national championship parade in April 2023, which took place immediately after Reese and the Tigers defeated Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85, O'Neal said he was “jealous” of the celebration. “I was,” he admitted.
“I thought, oh my God. I looked at everyone and thought, oh, I wish I could have done that,” O'Neal said with a smile.
The 7-foot-1 NBA legend played at LSU from 1989 to 1992 and was named SEC Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992.
O'Neal was then selected No. 1 overall by the Magic in the 1992 NBA Draft and played professionally until retiring in 2011.
O'Neal is Reese's mentor, and Reese's profile has continued to rise since making the transition from college to the pros. Last season, he and her former coach, LSU's Kim Mulkey, helped her navigate rocky waters.
“I called her and said, hey, it's part of the game, don't say anything, don't respond,” O'Neal said on the podcast.
Reese, who left LSU this spring, was selected seventh overall by the Sky in April's WNBA Draft and finished his injury-shortened rookie season with averages of 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
“I coach her sometimes because she reminds me of my daughter,” O'Neal said.
Of course, their bond is not just about work or play.
Earlier this month, Reese jokingly made a $100,000 bet with O'Neal over free throws and ended up making the six-figure shot.
“I think I owe him $100,000,” Reese responded in a clip with a crying face emoji.
She boasts a NIL valuation of $1.8 million. According to On3.
