Shaq defends Angel Reese amid haters: 'I wish I could punch some of them in the face'
Shaq defends Angel Reese amid haters: ‘I wish I could punch some of them in the face’ originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shaquille O’Neal is not standing by haters who continue to criticize Angel Reese.
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, the four-time NBA champion came to the defense of Angel Reese and WNBA rookie Lauren Betts, who have also received some hate from online users.
“I wish I could punch some of these guys in their face that just pick on my Angel and pick on my Lauren [Betts], but I have to be professional,” O’Neal said.
Since Reese’s collegiate days, she has been in the headlines for her rumored feud with Caitlin Clark during LSU’s national championship run. As for Betts, the former UCLA star who now plays for the Washington Mystics, received criticism surrounding the 2026 WNBA Draft, where she was the fourth overall pick. Fans criticized her high draft pick over other WNBA potential stars.
When asked why O’Neal decided to defend the WNBA stars now, he simply said, “Because enough is enough,” O’Neal said.
“They’ll take a hot topic and promote it on their page to get their followers up,” O’Neal continued. “It’s just a lot of nonsense, and a lot of it is embarrassing, and a lot of bullying.”
O’Neal has been mentoring Reese since her college career and used his position at Reebok to create her AR1 signature sneaker line. He also supported the star with her Unapologetically Angel podcast, which is a part of his The Big Podcast Network.
She also has been using her stardom, making moves on her own such as being the first athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last year, a cover on Vogue, an NBA 2K cover, a cameo in Netflix’s A House of Dynamit, and to name a few of her off-court achievements.
O’Neal made it known that he is there to help both Reese and Betts in their careers.
“They have my number,” he said. “They know if they need me, they can call me.”
As for their next game appearances, Betts will be facing the Indiana Fever on June 8. Reese will face her former team, the Chicago Sky, for the first time in the regular season since she signed with the Dream in April, on June 9.
More lifestyle news:
- Megan Thee Stallion sizzles in orange bikini as she joins Baywatch reboot with Livvy Dunne
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to reportedly have wedding at Madison Square Garden
- Kylie Jenner stuns in micro pink bikini after ditching Game 1 with Timothée Chalamet
- Jaylen Brown puts $5 million Boston penthouse on the market amid Celtics trade rumors
- Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift rumored NYC wedding gets location update
