Shaq probably won’t mind one of his rookie records getting broken if it’s by his niece. Angel Reese has come pretty close to his legendary rookie stat line. After surpassing Candace Parker, Reese extended her WNBA record of most consecutive double-doubles to 15 in her first 22 career games. That’s the most in the WNBA history and very close to the NBA record set by Shaquille O’Neal in his rookie season. This is just another way his niece is following in his footsteps.

It’s extreme to compare the NBA legend to the WNBA rookie, especially since Reese has only started her pro career. But she’s been following a Diesel-sized blueprint for a while, from LSU to Reebok. You can pretty much see Reese’s future mapping out Shaq’s legacy.

Shaquille O’Neal has big ambitions for Angel Reese

Orlando Magic picked Shaquille O’Neal first overall in the 1992 Draft and he was immediately Player of the Week. Soon after, he made history recording 19 straight double-doubles in his first 22 career games. He’d cap the 1992-93 season as Rookie of the Year. He even made his first of 15 All-Star appearances in 1993. That’s Angel Reese’s checklist.

Encouraged by Shaq to stay laser-focused on the WNBA draft, Reese was selected by Chicago Sky seventh overall. Within her first few games, she broke Candace Parker’s WNBA record of 12 straight double-doubles. Shortly after, she became the first member of the 2024 draft class to be named Player of the Week. She was immediately voted All-Star, one of the two rookies with Caitlin Clark, to make it.

On Thursday night, she logged 10 points and 10 rebounds in Sky’s 91-76 loss to the New York Liberty, extending her record to 15. That puts her in the exclusive club that Shaq already is in. This is especially meaningful given their close relationship.

Next, Shaq wants her to win WNBA Rookie of the Year. He’s campaigning for it already and it might be possible that Chi Barbie would do her ‘Unc’ proud. She has thus far.

Shaq upgrades Angel Reese to the biggest LSU honor

Shaquille O’Neal earned national fame right from his time at Louisiana State University (1989 to 1992) where he averaged 21.6 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game, 4.6 blocks per game, and 61.0% shooting across the three seasons. He earned All-American and SEC Player of the Year twice each and was NCAA Player of the Year in 1991. He also set the SEC record for most blocks for three consecutive seasons, a total of 412 career blocks in college. Apart from being the national leader in rebounding, he was the first player in the SEC to lead in scoring, rebounding, and blocks in one season. At LSU, he had six career triple-doubles.

It’s a legacy that made him a shoo-in for the LSU Hall of Fame and he has a bronze statue on campus. One thing that pricks him, though, is never winning his school the NCAA championship. Decades after he put LSU on the map, McDonald’s All-American Angel Reese transferred from Maryland to LSU in 2022. In 2023, amid a lot of national scrutiny, she won LSU the program’s first-ever NCAA championship.

She had Shaq’s admiration before that. But after meeting her in person, he took her under his wing. He elevated her to LSU’s GOAT for winning the school a championship and called her that when he made her his first signature athlete as Reebok’s president.

Reese could not fulfill Shaq’s desire for a second NCAA title but she ended her LSU run as SEC Player of the Year, and the National Player of the Week and led the SEC in scoring and rebounding. Apart from recording 19.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists throughout her LSU career, she also won the 2023 ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete. Given how her WNBA career is going from there, Shaq won’t stop heaping her with praise anytime soon.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.