Shaquille O’Neal says he’s reached a breaking point with internet trolls targeting WNBA players, defending Angel Reese and Lauren Betts during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
For Shaquille O’Neal, the line was crossed at some point—and he’s done pretending it isn’t personal.
During a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show. ” the former NBA star spoke out in defense of Atlanta Dream player Angel Reese and Washington Mystics rookie Lauren Betts. calling parts of the public discussion around them “embarrassing” and “bullying.” O’Neal said he knows both players well and described himself as a mentor to each of them.
“I wish I could punch some of these guys in their face that just pick on my Angel and pick up on my Lauren, but I have to be professional,” O’Neal said.
Reese and O’Neal’s relationship goes back to her days at LSU. Reese has said in the past that she viewed O’Neal as a “father-figure,” and his support has arrived during a stretch when she was heavily criticized after taunting then-Iowa star Caitlin Clark as Reese led the Tigers to the NCAA title.
When asked why he began defending Reese publicly so early, O’Neal didn’t soften his stance.
“Because enough is enough,” he said. “The problem with (sports media) now is you’re letting amateurs come in, and the amateurs think they have the same rights as you guys have.”
He singled out sports media personalities he believes amplify conflict for attention. O’Neal said some former broadcasters try to generate followers by pushing “hot topic” narratives.
“They’ll take a hot topic and promote it on their page to get their followers up. but you know it’s just a lot of nonsense. and just a lot of (it is) embarrassing. and a lot of bullying. ” O’Neal said. “Sometimes guys bullying guys is fine, but I can’t let you just bully females just so you can get likes.”.
His comments also come with a different layer of involvement: O’Neal is the president of Reebok basketball, and both Reese and Betts have Reebok ties. The shoe company made Reese a signature athlete to unveil its first basketball performance shoe in over a decade. Betts signed with Reebok in April.
On the court, O’Neal pointed to what he sees as focus and momentum. Reese. who was traded to the Dream from the Sky this offseason. is averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds per game in her third season as a pro. Betts, drafted No. 4 overall after winning the national championship with UCLA, is averaging 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds.
“They are having fun, they are playing fabulous, they are both determined to do great things, and I just stay out of their way,” O’Neal said. “But they’re smart, I love the way they’re playing, and they’re happy, and that’s all that matters for me.”
O’Neal acknowledged that his own mentoring has not always landed cleanly with everyone. He faced backlash in October 2024 after comments he made on Reese selling more T-shirts by wearing “little shorts” during a conversation on her podcast about whether the WNBA would benefit from playing with lower rims.
“They have my number, they know if they need me, they can call me,” O’Neal said. “I hate to sound like this, but I grew up by myself. I didn’t have anybody to call. So now I’m like ‘I said this, they didn’t like it, that was a mistake, delete that. I said this. they like it. OK. I’ll keep doing interviews like this.’ Sometimes you just have to teach yourself.”.
The through-line in O’Neal’s remarks is blunt: even when the stakes are “just” sports, he says the harassment is not harmless—especially when the targets are women and the goal is attention.
Shaquille O’Neal Angel Reese Lauren Betts Atlanta Dream Washington Mystics WNBA Reebok basketball internet trolls sports media bullying