Angel Reese and Shaquille O’Neal: Drawing Up the Ultimate Crossover Linked by $3.8 Billion Company

The Louisiana State University Lady Tigers’ star Angel Reese has been in the headlines ever since she was noticed by the NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. Reese also called Shaq “uncle” once on a social media networking platform. But is Shaq really related to her by blood? And how the two have come about sharing a history?

Let us today have a look at one of the most admirable relations in basketball world today.

What history do Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese share?

Angel Reese is a stretch four who plies her trade for the Louisiana State University Lady Tigers. Her brilliant performance and aggressive attitude propelled her team to clinch the coveted NCAA Championship title in 2023 by decimating the Iowa Hawkeyes. While the LSU Tigers pocketed 102 points, the Iowa Hawkeyes could only basket 85.

During the Final in April this year, Reese did the ‘you can’t see me’ gesture towards the Iowa Hawkeyes’ point guard Caitlin Clark before pointing to her middle finger. Reese’s critics slammed her for her move and a lot of Iowa fans were quick to jump on the bandwagon. Though, Clark had done the same move after her Elite Eight win over the Louisville it was Reese who was at the receiving end.

ESPN’s Keith Olberman called Reese a “f***ing idiot” on social media networking platform X. It was then that the NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal jumped to save Reese. He asked  Olberman to leave Reese alone.“Shut your dumb a– up, leave Angel Reese alone,” Shaq wrote in a tweet. 

Social media personality Dave Portney also took a dig at Reese. And Shaq again came to Reese’s rescue. He silenced Portney with his strong use of words. Reese noticing Shaq’s protective side called him her “Uncle”. This led to a lot of fans speculating if they were related by blood. However, Reese had called Shaq uncle based on the fact that Shaq had been there for her throughout her trials and tribulations related to this incident in public. “Yeah my uncle Shaq don’t play bout me. Period.”

READ MORE: “From One Black Girl to Another”: Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Wins Angel Reese’s Heart in Front of 2,600,000 People

How did Shaq help Angel sign an NIL?

Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese again made headlines when the former was appointed Reebok’s basketball President on Monday. Shaq’s appointment came after Reebok decided to change its strategy and revive itself as a major sports brand throughout the world. They hired Shaq because of his global appeal as well as to partner with athletes and sports organizations. 

For the record, Shaq is also an investor at Authentic Brands Group which acquired Reebok from Adidas for $2.46 billion in 2022. With Reebok rolling out products across specialty, mid-tier, off-price, and mass channels, Shaq will play a major role in its comeback.

Shaq then helped Reebok sign an NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal with the LSU Lady Tigers’ star Angel Reese. He also called her “GOAT” and  stated according to Nice Kicks official X page “There is no one making a bigger impact on the game right now than Angel Reese.” The Nice Kicks page tweeted the news along with a picture of Reese and Shaq together.

It was then that Reese came forward and reminded everyone that the picture was from the time when Reese had first met Shaq. Shaq could be seen sporting an LSU full t-shirt while Reese is standing next to him in her leather jacket. Reese also thanked the LSU Lady Tigers’ assistant coach Bob Starkey since as per her tweet, Starkey was the one who helped Reese meet the NBA legend Shaq.

For the unversed, Shaq too graduated from the LSU. He played under coach Dale Brown and bagged many coveted awards such as 2x All-American, 2x SEC  Player of the Year and also clinched the Adolph Rupp Trophy. Shaq was also later inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.

WATCH THIS STORY: Ahead of Archrival Caitlin Clark and $110,000,000 Worth Out-of-Favor NBA Star, Angel Reese Rules High Among the Biggest College Stars’

Thus, Shaq helped Reebok sign an NIL with Angel Reese after becoming the basketball president. And Angel too calls Shaq her uncle. The two apart from sharing a repo as players also graduated from the same university and played for their women’s and men’s basketball teams respectively.