Angel Reese recently stirred up quite a conversation when she candidly shared that her WNBA salary barely covers her rent. While that may sound alarming, Reese has a lot to be grateful for, especially when it comes to the multitude of endorsement deals and collaborations that help her maintain her luxurious lifestyle. One of her most exciting partnerships launched in August with The Hershey Company, a well-known candy brand. However, a recent revelation on her podcast suggests she might not have sealed it all alone. And she was able to settle scores with this person as well.
On Thursday, Chicago Sky forward released another exciting episode of her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, and this time, she welcomed none other than her uncle and mentor, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, to the show. Staying true to her podcast tradition, Reese gave a shoutout to “Reese’s Pieces” for her collaboration with Hershey’s, celebrating the sweet candy deal she secured in August.
And while she did that, Shaq playfully seized the moment to boast about his influence in securing that deal. “You’re welcome by the way. Who hooked that deal up?” he quipped, his signature humor shining through. Initially, Reese brushed off the question, but her uncle was relentless. He reiterated his inquiry, this time making sure to draw attention to Chi-Town Barbie’s notice.
USA Today via Reuters
This could very well be the case, especially since Shaq also signed a deal with the same brand. Just days after Reese’s announcement, he launched two versions of “Shaq-A-Licious” oversized candy gummies.
It suggests he might have had talks already going on with the brand and that’s how he helped Reese too, even before himself. But it’s not just about business; Shaq also supported Reese personally by clearing some of her debts to him, thanks to his late arrival on the show.
Angel Reese settled debts with Shaquille O’Neal
While the conversation about Hershey’s came toward the end of the episode, things kicked off with Shaquille O’Neal offering an apology to Angel Reese.
When the Chicago Sky forward asked him to elaborate, he sheepishly admitted he had shown up two hours late—a rarity for the NBA legend.
To make up for the delay, Shaq expressed his desire to treat Reese to something special. Seizing the moment, she playfully brought up some old debts she owed him, turning the lighthearted banter into a chance to settle up.
“Let’s just cuz I know they were saying like, ‘I owe you 100K.’ So let’s just clear our bet right,” Reese put forward her demand which was quickly accepted by Shaq as he replied, “I got you, it’s cleared.” This unsettled score appears to stem from a playful moment made earlier this month when Reese posted a fun video on her Instagram of the Los Angeles Lakers legend casually shooting hoops on the court.
While filming Shaq, Reese playfully threw down the gauntlet, challenging him with, “$100,000 if you make this shot.”
Without missing a beat, O’Neal sank the basket, prompting Reese to burst into cheers.
She couldn’t help but caption the video, “I guess I owe him $100K 😭.”
Hence, when the opportunity came to Reese’s table to settle it up, she seized it right away.
These moments highlight Shaq’s unwavering support for Reese, which has even contributed to her landing a signature deal with Reebok, where Shaq serves as the president of basketball operations. “She’s (Reese) probably the greatest athlete to come out of LSU sports,” said Shaq last year as with him at the Chi-Town Barbie’s side, her future looks even brighter.
