The basketball world has been buzzing with the debate of Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark, but Shaquille O’Neal has always made his choice clear. Caitlin Clark may have snagged Rookie of the Year, and Shaq has shown respect for her undeniable talent, but his loyalty lies with Reese. Not only does he believe in her court skills, but he’s also trusted her with the task of revitalizing Reebok’s presence in basketball. And, by the looks of it, his faith in Reese is about to pay off.

As the President of Basketball Operations at Reebok, Shaq personally recruited Reese, who’s slated to release her own signature shoe line by 2026. Reese fully embodies Reebok’s new campaign slogan—“Sport is Everything”—which stands as a call to passion, commitment, and individuality. The latest ad release, featuring Reese alongside other icons like Justin Fields, Shakur Stevenson, and Anuel AA, illustrates this spirit in full force.

Angel Reese Proves to Shaq

In a recent statement, Reese reflected on the brand’s vision: “Whether you’re a world-class athlete, gamer, chef, or musician, sport is about anything that excites you—it’s a community we can all share.” Her words highlight a maturity that aligns perfectly with Reebok’s comeback in sports culture. Reese’s role as the face of the brand is setting a solid foundation, and Shaq can confidently sit back, knowing his choice is already paying off.

Notably, Reese is only the second WNBA player to receive a signature shoe from Reebok, following Lexie Brown. Their partnership, renewed in October, traces back to Reese’s college days when she became the brand’s first NIL signee amid its resurgence in the sportswear industry, led by Shaq. Now, on her podcast *Unapologetically Angel,* Reese shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming shoe line. “We’ve already kicked off the design process,” she said. “It means the world to me to have Reebok’s full support… a signature shoe has always been a dream of mine.” Her message to young girls: anything is possible.

However, this impactful signing wasn’t Shaq’s idea. During a recent talk at the Black Footwear Forum in Detroit, he revealed it was actually a suggestion from one of his favorite colleagues. “She says, ‘You have a relationship with Angel, we should sign her.’ Basically, I did what she said,” he laughed. “I called Angel, Angel was interested. I said, ‘Angel, this is Portia. Portia, this is Angel.’”

With Reese blazing a new path in her career and Shaq supporting her every step of the way, it’s only a matter of time before he appears on *Unapologetically Angel.* After all, she’s got the entire WNBA offseason to bring her mentor on board—and who knows? Maybe her favorite NBA player will make it happen!

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