Don’t let the fact that Shaquille O’Neal played for six different teams fool you into doubting his loyalty. The four-time NBA champion is an extremely loyal individual. Just look at how he’s defended Angel Reese.
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Former NFL star Robert Griffin III made controversial comments about Reese, which O’Neal didn’t take kindly to. Shannon Sharpe has joined the fray, applauding O’Neal’s devotion.
Shaq isn’t a stranger to feuds, but he doesn’t actively pursue conflict. The Big Fella learned his lesson from his beef with Kobe Bryant, which sacrificed years of potential friendship that he won’t get back. That doesn’t mean he avoids conflict entirely.
O’Neal will stand up for himself and those close to him when needed. RGIII attempted to condemn a hateful post toward Reese, which featured the Chicago Sky star as a monkey. But his approach added more fuel to the fire. And O’Neal jumped in to address it quite swiftly.
“RGIII, tweet another monkey post about my girl, Angel Reese, I’m going to punch you in your f****** face,” Shaq said on Off the Record. “It’s enough. Like, I don’t usually do stuff like this, but just stop it, bro. You got your job; you got your podcast. Leave my Angel Reese alone.”
Shaq has a close relationship with Reese and views her as an extended daughter. They also hold close ties to Reebok. Reese became the first big-name O’Neal, and the brand, recruited to join their new and improved basketball department. O’Neal would go the extra mile for her.
Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson spoke about the situation on Nightcap. Sharpe urged O’Neal not to resort to violence, advising him, “Shaq, don’t punch the man in the face.” However, the Denver Broncos legend understands that O’Neal’s warning only comes from a place of love.
“If Shaq is for you, you can’t do no wrong. Shaq is a big, fun-loving guy, but he’s a loyal guy. When he likes somebody or he rocks with you, he rocks with you to the end,” Sharpe added.
There’s a reason Shaq holds certain people in higher regard than others. Despite his constant bickering with Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA, he’s loyal to Barkley. And it’s reciprocated. Barkley fought on behalf of O’Neal during ESPN’s negotiations with the crew regarding the show.
Reese has shown loyalty to O’Neal by joining Reebok when she could’ve signed with more established sneaker brands like Nike or Adidas. He rewarded her with a signature shoe and will stand up for her any time. It doesn’t matter if the person standing in his way is a former NFL player.
