NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is making headlines after delivering a fiery response to former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III (RGIII) over a controversial tweet involving WNBA star Angel Reese. O’Neal voiced his frustration during an appearance on Off the Record with Bailey Jackson, defending Reese and calling out RGIII for amplifying harmful content.
The controversy stems from RGIII reposting a racially offensive, edited image of Reese on the cover of the upcoming NBA 2K26 game. While RGIII claimed he was highlighting the racism behind the post, critics argue that reposting the image only gave it more visibility, inadvertently contributing to the problem.
Shaq, who has served as a mentor to Reese since her time at LSU—their shared alma mater—did not hold back.
“If you post that again, I’m gonna punch you in the f—ing face,” O’Neal said, sending a clear warning to Griffin. “Leave her alone. Now you gotta deal with me.”
O’Neal also took aim at the broader narrative RGIII has pushed, including previous comments suggesting Reese harbors animosity toward fellow WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Shaq dismissed that idea, emphasizing that any rivalry between the two is strictly professional and does not extend beyond the basketball court.
Drawing on his own experience, O’Neal referenced past competitive matchups with players like Christian Laettner, Alonzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo, noting that fierce on-court rivalries are a natural part of sports—but do not equate to personal hatred.
“What happens on the court stays on the court,” Shaq said. “Stop trying to turn this into something it’s not.”
As Angel Reese continues to navigate the spotlight in her early WNBA career, Shaquille O’Neal’s passionate defense stands as a reminder of the importance of protecting athletes—especially Black women—from unnecessary and harmful narratives.
