During a conversation with Angel Reese, Shaquille O’Neal made an unexpected statement about his personal future. The 52-year-old former NBA star appeared as a guest on Reese’s podcast, Unapologetically Angel. At one point, the 22-year-old WNBA player asked him if he ever saw himself getting married again. “Probably not,” O’Neal responded candidly. “I’m going to end up alone.”
He went on to explain his reasoning, expressing frustration over societal expectations. “I already know how it’ll go. Y’all are always making up new rules as you go. There’s no manual for being the perfect man or husband,” O’Neal remarked.
Reese encouraged O’Neal, hoping he would find a special woman in the future, though he remained doubtful
His concerns about modern relationship standards extended to the topic of cheating. “If I’m not physically with someone — me, the Diesel — and I spend every day with you, and you know my schedule, what I do on my phone shouldn’t matter. That’s not cheating. You can’t convince me it’s worse than actual cheating.”
He admitted he struggles to understand these dynamics, saying, “I just don’t get it.” Reese responded with kind words, hoping O’Neal would find a “lovely woman” someday, though the Inside the NBA host wasn’t optimistic. “Nobody gets me. I’m just too weird,” he said.
Reflecting on his future, O’Neal noted that time feels limited. He remarked, “I’ve only got 18 summers left before I hit 70. At that age, I won’t be doing podcasts or signing deals. I need to knock all of this stuff out now.”
O’Neal’s marriage to Shaunie Henderson ended due to his infidelity. Together, they share four children — Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah. Shaunie also has a son named Myles from a previous relationship, and O’Neal has a daughter, Taahirah, with ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh.
O’Neal’s appearance on Reese’s October 24 podcast stirred controversy among fans. During the episode, he made comments about Reese’s outfit that left her visibly uncomfortable.
At one point, O’Neal brought up how lower rims in the WNBA could influence the game, saying, “Imagine you dunking in those same little shorts you wore at the Wild ‘N Out show.” The remark referred to the shorts Reese wore while making an appearance at the Wild ‘N Out Live Tour stop in Chicago.
Reese rolled her eyes and gave a nervous laugh, responding, “Oh my god.” Attempting to redirect the conversation, she repeated, “Okay. Alright. Alright. Alright,” trying to move on.
The interaction quickly went viral, with fans criticizing O’Neal for his comments. Some found it inappropriate given their dynamic, as Reese has previously referred to him as a “father figure.” O’Neal even escorted Reese and her mother onto the court during LSU’s senior day celebration earlier this year.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “Angel Reese learned a harsh lesson about men from Shaq in real time, I fear.” Another called out the retired athlete for “sexualizing Angel Reese when he’s 30 years older and has children her age.”
