Basketball fans were divided in their opinions after Angel Reese, a 20-year-old NCAA champion, directed a ‘You can’t see me’ gesture toward Caitlin Clark during a recent game. While some fans saw it as a playful gesture, others deemed it “classless” considering Reese’s team was just a few minutes away from winning the championship title. Now, an American Olympic star bashed Shaquille O’Neal for his comments supporting Angel Reese. 

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal weighed in on the controversy, defending Reese on his podcast, The Big Podcast with Shaq. He stated that Reese is “probably the greatest athlete ever to come out of LSU sports. Man and female.” O’Neal further compared Reese to other notable LSU alumni such as Joe Burrow, Odell Beckham Jr., Sha’Carri Richardson and Patrick Peterson, claiming that Reese is more athletic than them.

Shaquille O’Neal gets called out after supporting Angel Reese 

According to reports in TMZ, Shaquille O’Neal’s comments were met with criticism from former LSU track star Lolo Jones. Jones, who competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, vehemently disagreed with O’Neal’s statement, suggesting that he may have been “high on some pain medicines” following his recent hip surgery. Jones pointed out that the list of notable LSU athletes is extensive, and while she acknowledged Reese’s talent, she believed that LSU’s track and field program is the true powerhouse of the university.

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Jones emphasized that she was not disrespecting Reese and expressed support for the young athlete, stating, “We’re not hating on Angel. We love to see it. She’s cooking. Let her keep cooking.” However, Jones maintained that O’Neal’s claim of Reese being the greatest athlete to come out of LSU was exaggerated, and the list of LSU’s greatest athletes is “arduous” and “so long.”

How did Shaq retaliate on the “classless” comments?

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal had defended Reese by clapping back at popular media personality Dave Portnoy, who had called Reese “classless” in a social media post. Many fans pointed out the double standard and criticized the backlash against Reese, suggesting that the reaction might have been different if a male athlete had done the same gesture.

Shaquille O’Neal retaliated against Dave Portnoy’s criticism of Angel Reese by writing, “And so is your mother.” This exchange between O’Neal and Portnoy has sparked further discussion and debate among fans about Reese’s actions and the treatment of female athletes in the sports community. Many fans have expressed support for Reese and pointed out the unfairness of the criticism she has received.