Despite facing scrutiny from many media sources, LSU’s Angel Reese is supposed by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Following the Final Four women’s basketball game, Reese was strongly critiqued by media outlets for “taunting” opposing players such as Iowa’s standout player Caitlin Clark. Reese, who was voted the 2023 Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament, did not hold back her thoughts on this commentary.
“All year I was critiqued about who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in the box that you all want me to be in. I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto. You told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing.” she shared in a post-game press conference, according to PEOPLE Magazine.
“So this is for the girls that look like me, that want to speak up on what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you. It was bigger than me tonight. I’m happy. I felt I helped grow women’s basketball.”
Despite the controversies, Reese is refusing to change for everyone. In fact, she encouraged self-love and for everyone who watches her to continue being themselves.
“Just keep being you,” Reese said Monday. “Never let anybody tell you no or that you can’t do this, you can’t do that. I’ve always stood in my skin and am proud of who I am. I’m very, very confident in who I am, and I think people who support me, they understand who I am. I love who I am.”
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With this being said, historic basketball figure Shaquille O’Neal openly discussed his opinions on Reese and outwardly supported her behaviors and speech.
Shaq O’Neal says, ‘When you’re a champion, you’re allowed to talk your stuff.’
“When you’re a champion, you’re allowed to TYS: talk your stuff,” O’Neal said of the 20-year-old basketball player. “I talked to Angel yesterday. I said, ‘Hey, you’re a champion. Enjoy being a champion and have fun.’ “
However, his support did not end in interview form. When he saw podcaster Keith Olbermann calling her a “f—— idiot” on Twitter, O’Neal instantly defended the college basketball player. In response, the 51-year-old retired NBA star wrote, “Shut your dumb a– up and leave angel Reese alone.”
Echoing Shaq’s response, Reese added to O’Neal’s tweet with the sentiments, “Yeah, my uncle Shaq don’t play bout me. Period.”
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