Though the episode covered a litany of topics, the conversation took a turn when the NBA champion started sharing his thoughts on how the WNBA can be more entertaining. Though the league just finished one of its most popular and profitable seasons, it seems that many still think the game has some missing pieces. In O’Neal‘s eyes, the ladies’ inability to dunk is holding them back…as well as their sex appeal.
“Imagine you in them same little shorts you had at the Wild N’ Out show dunking,” he said. “You know how many t-shirts you would sell, you trippin’. If you just lower it like that to where it gives you the ability to dunk. A lot of people are going to comment, they going to hate this, but I know exactly what I’m talking about, that’s the only thing missing!”
The comments seemed to come out of nowhere and were extra weird considering the 52-year-old has largely taken on a role of mentorship in the young athlete’s life. They share a similar background as they both led LSU to national championships and O’Neal signed Reese to a NIL deal with Reebok even before she went pro. Reese also had the NBA legend walk her out at her senior night for her final season.
Social media, rightfully, called Shaq to the carpet for the disturbing behavior as well as the troubling professional dynamics that could arise between the two of them.
Of course, the misogynists and “pick-me”-s were out in droves to defend Shaq’s comments as just playful banter between two people who share a close relationship but mostly social media has dragged him for them.
Shaq has yet to respond to the backlash but here’s to hoping that he’s reevaluating how he handled himself on the podcast. Reese is set to release her first signature shoe with Reebok in 2026 where O’Neal currently serves as President of Basketball alongside fellow NBA icon, Allen Iverson.
Watch the full episode of Shaq’s interview with Angel Reese on Unapologetically Angel below.
Shaq Refused To Pay $80,000 For Security And Made A Surprising Choice. He Invested In A Company Bezos Later Bought For $1 Billion
Shaquille O’Neal is known for his dominance on the basketball court, but his business moves off the court are just as impressive. One of the most surprising stories about Shaq isn’t about a slam dunk or a championship win — it’s about how he turned a simple home security issue into a multi-million-dollar investment.
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Shaq has three homes in Atlanta, where he’s lived for years, and he needed a new security system for one of them. When he contacted a security company, they quoted him $80,000. Even though he’s worth millions, Shaq knew that price was way too high. So, he did what many of us would do and looked for a cheaper solution. While shopping at Best Buy, he spotted some Ring cameras and decided to buy one.
“The crazy thing about it is I hooked it up myself,” Shaq said, clearly proud of his DIY skills. He installed the camera, and then, while traveling in China, he realized just how powerful the system was. He could see and talk to someone at his front door from halfway around the world. That’s when it clicked for Shaq — this wasn’t just a good product but a game-changer.
Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividendswould you invest in it?
Excited about what he had discovered, Shaq decided to take things a step further. He tracked down the company’s booth at a tech conference and made a bold offer to the CEO. “I said, ‘Hey, my name is Shaquille O’Neal. I want to invest in your company, and you’re going to pay me to do commercials, and then whatever happens happens,’” Shaq recounted. The CEO agreed, and Shaq became an early investor in Ring.
A few years later, Jeff Bezos bought Ring for $1 billion. Shaq’s decision to invest in this still relatively unknown company saved him money on his home security and made him a lot of money in return. How much exactly? He never disclosed.
But this wasn’t Shaq’s first smart investment. In 1999, while still in his NBA prime, Shaq’s agent introduced him to Ron Conway, a top venture capitalist. During a lunch at the Four Seasons, Conway pitched him on investing in a little-known company called Google. Shaq invested $250,000, which grew significantly as Google became a tech giant.
He said, “We had a meeting with them and it looked good, and I put some money in and forgot about it.”
Shaq’s portfolio doesn’t stop there. He’s also invested in companies like Lyft, Apple and Vitaminwater. With Lyft, he jumped in just a year after it was founded, and when the company went public in 2019, it was valued at $22 billion.
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Shaquille O’Neal admits he made time to address Shannon Sharpe‘s “clickbait” comments! On Thursday, Shaq flexed on Shannon via Instagram, telling the fellow retired athlete to “Google” him.
O’Neal popped off on Sharpe via Instagram. He was responding to a viral clip of Sharpe arguing that Shaq is “envious” about not being a basketball “Goat.” The conversation took place on Sharpe’s ‘Night Cap’ podcast with Chad Ochocinco and Gilbert Arenas.
“You’re never going to see another guy Shaq’s size, with his athleticism that was as dominant as him. Shaq should have had five MVPs…but see when you’re historically great, they talk about you as a basketball legend, the goat, and Shaq is never brought up. And I think a part of him is envious of that,” Sharpe said. Doubling down with, “It’s hard for me to put somebody in the goat conversation with one MVP. Regular season,” Shannon said.
He continued, saying that if Shaq had had his “work ethic, he would’ve had 40,000 points.”
Shaq Says Shannon Is “Trying To Stay Relevant By Gossiping”
Shaq didn’t hold back on Shannon Sharpe, clapping back in multiple posts on his Instagram feed. He accused him of saying “anything to get clicks,” denied being jealous, and ran down his stats.
“If you ain’t ranked in the top ten in your profession, then you can’t speak on Me. Don’t forget I know what you did to get where you are. me jealous, lol sounds like you are jealous. I know you tryna stay relevant by gossiping on your podcast. we don’t believe you. you need more people and in case you forgot. 4 rings, three finals, MVP top 50, and top 75. google me. and to b quite frank all this new success you got, you still under me. u don’t kno my work ethic. but according i work less than you but im worth more than you. make it make sense. love you too.”
Shaq also told Sharpe that there are “better ways” to get his bread up than “gossiping.” As far as being a “goat,” O’Neal wrote, “Never wanted to be the goat I wanted to be who you should greet me as THE MOST DOMINANT EVER.”
Swipe below to see everything Shaq shared aimed at Sharpe.
Sharpe Reacts To Shaquille O’Neal’s Drag
It looks like Shannon caught Shaq’s clapbacks and proceeded to double down on his “GOAT” opinion. Sharpe pointed out that the former Magic player has admitted to not working, eating, or training as hard “as well as he should have.” He said Shaq always brings up a former MVP loss when someone wins the award.
Shannon said that he has no problem giving other athletes their flowers because he succeeded at “maximizing” his ability.
“You know why I have no problem giving other people credit? Because I got everything I could out of my God-given ability. God gave me the ability to do what I can do, but he gave me discipline, he gave me dedication. The way I train, the way I ate, that way I slept, so this was all I could get. So I would’ve felt this way if I got these numbers and I half-a*ssed it, but I never half-a**ed it.”
Sharpe admitted that his NFL career is not the equivalent of Shaquille’s NBA stats. However, he added that he “maximized” what he had to get what he got!
He admitted that Shaq will always have more and be more than him in the public light. “But no one will ever say I cheated myself,” Sharpe added.
On her pastor husband’s YouTube series, ‘Not Your Typical Bible Study,’ she expressed how she knew he was the one God chose for her.
How Shaunie Knew Pastor Keion Was The One
Past Keion asked Shaunie, “How do I know when I meet somebody, ‘that’s my person?’… you know like when the Lord showed you.”
She responded that trust played a major role. In addition to being challenged, which is something she didn’t feel prior to their romance.
“I have an answer for that, ’cause I knew this question,” she said.
“So trust was one. I could trust you. You challenged me and I received the challenge, I wasn’t like rebelling the challenge. I didn’t combat the challenge, I take on the challenge. And that was something that I didn’t feel before…”
What Shaunie Loves About Her New Marriage
In addition, Mrs. Henderson added, she enjoyed how they both sought to understand each other’s love language. It was also an element that was missing in previous relationships.
Shaunie and Shaquille O’Neal were married for nine years. The retired NBA player admitted he was unfaithful. Their marriage ended for this reason.
“I would fight for this relationship. I wanted to understand how you recieved love and you wanted to understand how I received love that’s…that was brand new to me too, to acutally take the time to learn how somebody receives love isn’t just loving them,” she explained.
Furthermore, the former basketball wife appreciates that they are each other’s biggest fan and how they can just hang out and be content.
“I can just be with you and do nothing and that’s important because when you love somebody you gotta love being with them,” she added.
The Hendersons tied the knot in Anguilla in 2021. After she married, Shaunie sent her last name O’Neal to the left.
In her upcoming memoir, ‘UNDEFEATED: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms,’ she addressed her past. However, the reality star was careful not to slam her ex-husband, Shaq.
She told People, “I always had a fear of sharing too much and of telling my story that involved anybody else.”
“I didn’t want to disrespect someone else’s story, even if it was a part of mine, but as I get older and do more things in the entertainment industry, I found that people have a misconception of who I am,” she added.
If, like me, you’re making your way toward Anime Expo, the self-proclaimed “largest celebration of Japanese pop culture in North America” this coming weekend (yes, the Otaku of Kotaku will be there!), you may be feeling overwhelmed. But fear not! If you have no earthly idea what must-see events the great congregation of weebs has in store for you or how to make the most of your precious time during the expo, here’s a helpful guide to all the biggest panels at the four-day convention.
Disney’s New Post-Apocalyptic Anime Proves The Mouse Has Good Taste
Anime Expo, which takes place from July 1 to July 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, revealed a cavalcade of anime trailers and info on highly anticipated series like Chainsaw Man, Mob Psycho 100, and Trigun Stampede during last year’s event. This year’s convention is looking to maintain that energy with many must-see events as well. While the offerings at this year’s expo include listening to live music from DJ Diesel (that’s Shaq btw), samurai sword training, and discussing the LGBTQ+ themes in Sailor Moon, this list will only cover where and when big-name anime studios will host panels and chat with visitors.
It should also be noted that, while last year’s expo ultimately did require proof of covid vaccination or a negative test result, this year those requirements have been dropped, according to the event’s health and safety guidelines.Anime Expo, however, “strongly recommended” attendees get vaccinations and/or booster shots before attending and wear face masks while inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. Without further ado, here’s your definitive itinerary guide to the biggest panels at Anime Expo.
Image: Anime Expo /Kotaku
July 1
Welcoming Ceremony
Where: Main Events
When: 10:30-11:20 a.m.
Bungo Stray Dogs Panel
What’s Happening: Bungo Stray Dogs creator Kafka Asagiri talks about how he went about crafting the popular mystery manga series.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead World Premiere
What’s Happening: The world premiere of the anime adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, which premieres on Hulu and Netflix on July 9.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 12:30-1:50 p.m.
Bandai Namco Panel
What’s Happening: Bandai Namco Filmworks, known for making anime like Mobile Suit Gundam and Cowboy Bebop, reveals news on its upcoming anime shows “and more.”
Where: Panel Room 408 AB
When: 2-2:50 pm
Netflix J-Content Presentation
What’s Happening: Netflix provides new info on anime like Pluto, Pokémon Concierge, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, and the final season of Beastars featuring producers of those respective shows during its “From Japan to the World” presentation.
Where: Main Events
When: 3:15-4:05 p.m.
Toho Panel
What’s Happening: Toho hosts a lineup of panels featuring industry professionals from anime series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family, and My Hero Academia.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 2:30-3:50 p.m.
Screenshot: Trigger / Kotaku
Studio Trigger Panel
What’s Happening: Studio Trigger is presenting the world premiere of the first episode of its upcoming series Delicious in Dungeon and a first look at a new anime from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners director, Hiroyuki Imashi.
Where: Main Events
When: 1:45-2:35 p.m.
Mappa Panel
What’s Happening: Mappa CEO Manabu Otsuka and producer Makoto Kimura will discuss behind-the-scenes info on its upcoming anime shows.
Where: JW Marriott Ballroom
When: 3-3:50 p.m.
The Ancient Magus Bride Season 2 Panel
What’s Happening: Studio Kafka will be hosting live drawing, cosplay, and behind-the-scenes discussion events as well as the premiere of Ancient Magus Bride season 2’s first episode.
Where: Panel Room 408 AB
When: 3:30-4:50 p.m.
Spy x Family Panel
What’s Happening: Crunchyroll is hosting a panel with voice actor Takuya Eguchi, who plays Loid Forger in Spy x Family’s Japanese cast.
Where: LA Convention Center Main Events Hall
When: 5-5:50 p.m.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles Panel
What’s Happening: Voice actors Chiaki Kobayashi and Alek Le, the Japanese and English voices of protagonist Mash, respectively, discuss the first season of the anime.
What’s Happening: World premiere of NieR: Automata creator Yoko Taro’s new anime KamiErabi GOD.app by Studio Bones.
Where: 403 AB
When: 10-11:30 a.m.
Mappa x Crunchyroll Panel
What’s Happening: Mappa discusses and gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at popular anime titles like Jujutsu Kaisen.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dark Horse Manga Panel
What’s Happening: Dark Horse reveals new releases and answers questions about manga series like Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, Mob Psycho 100, and Berserk.
Where: 408 AB
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Screenshot: Production I.G. / Adult Swim / Kotaku
Production I.G x Wit Panel
What’s Happening: Production I.G and Wit present information about shows like the highly anticipated anime adaptation of horror creator Junji Ito’s Uzumaki.
Where: Main Events
When: 12-12:50 p.m.
Warner Bros. Japan Anime Panel
What’s Happening: Warner Bros. hosts panels for the new seasons of Record of Ragnarok and Bastard!!!- Heavy Metal Dark Fantasy.
Where: 408 AB
When: 1-2:20 p.m.
Undead Unlock Panel
What’s Happening: TMS Entertainment gives fans a first look at the anime adaptation of Undead Unlock featuring the Japanese voice actors for Shen and Fuuko Izumo.
Where: Main Events
When: 1:30-2:20 p.m.
Studio Bones 25th Anniversary Panel
What’s Happening: Studio Bones president Masahiko Minami and Cowboy Bebop character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto reveal new info on their upcoming cyberpunk anime, Metallic Rouge, as well as discuss some of their earlier work.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Yoshitaka Amano Panel
What’s Happening: A panel with legendary Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano, featuring a live drawing, a discussion of his work, and the announcement of an upcoming anime project
Where: Petree Hall
When: 2:40-3:30 p.m.
Jujutsu Kaisen Panel
What’s Happening: Crunchyroll hosts a panel discussing behind-the-scenes info on the previous and upcoming season of Jujutsu Kaisen with the team behind the show.
Where: Main Events
When: 3-3:50 p.m.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Panel
What’s Happening: Aniplex producer Yuma Takahashi and the Japanese voice actors for Demon Slayer’s Tanjiro Kamado and Muichiro Tokito discuss the anime’s latest season, the Swordsmith Village Arc.
Where: Main Events
When: 4:30-5:50 p.m.
VIZ Official Industry Panel
What’s Happening: Masakazu Morita,the Japanese voice actor for Bleach’s Ichigo Kurosaki, joins Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead artist Kotaro Takata to discuss the upcoming seasons of their shows.
Where: 408 AB
When: 4:30-5:20 p.m.
SEGA Presents: Dragons of Japan
What’s Happening: RGG Studio hosts an hour-long panel about the upcoming Like a Dragon game featuring producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and the English and Japanese voice actors for Kiryu Kazuma.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 5:30-6:20 p.m.
Premieres
July 3
Persona 5 Tactica Panel
What’s Happening: Atlus West and Persona 5 Tactica voice actors give fans a closer look at the upcoming turn-based spin-off.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 10-10:50 a.m.
Warner Bros. Japan x Wit Studio Panel
What’s Happening: Warner Bros. Japan and Wit Studio reveal a “mysterious brand-new anime project” that it promises will blow fans’ minds. It’s apparently an isekai show.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 10-10:50 a.m.
Aniplex of America x A-1 Pictures Panel
What’s Happening: Aniplex of America and A-1 Pictures reveal their lineup of anime for 2023 and some behind-the-scenes production info.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Panel
What’s Happening: Viz Media celebrates the release of the second part of Bleach’s final season with Masakazu Morita, the Japanese voice actor for Ichigo Kurosaki.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 1:30-2:50 p.m.
Crunchyroll Industry Panel
What’s Happening: Crunchyroll announces new info about new and upcoming anime to the streamer.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 3:30-4:50 p.m.
Hi-Fi Rush Panel
What’s Happening:Hi-Fi Rush game director John Johanas and voice actors discuss developing Tango Gameworks’ rhythm action game.
Where: 403 AB
When: 3:30-4:20 p.m.
My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Panel
What’s Happening: Aniplex Producer Masami Niwa and Yamada voice actor Koki Uchiyama talk about the rom-com gaming anime’s first season.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 4:30-6 p.m.
Persona 3 Reload Panel
What’s Happening: Atlus West gives players a behind-the-scenes peek at the remake of its beloved RPG series.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 7-7:50 p.m.
Shin Megami Tensei 35th Anniversary
What’s Happening: Atlus looks back on the past games and gives players a “glimpse into the future” of its RPG series.
Where: 411
When: 7-8:20 p.m.
Premieres
Screenshot: Toei Animation / DandeLion Animation Studio / Kotaku
July 4
Undead Unlock Auditions
What’s Happening: TMS Entertainment and Bang Zoom! Studios host open auditions for visitors to land a role in its upcoming anime, Undead Unlock.
Where: Main Events
When:10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Horimiya: The Missing Pieces Panel
What’s Happening: Crunchyroll hosts a panel for the rom-com spin-off of Horimiya featuring the anime’s director and Izumi Miyamura voice actor Kouki Uchiyama and a sneak peek at the first episode.
Where: 408 AB
When: 10:30 a.m.-11:20 a.m.
Closing Ceremony
Where: Main Events
When: 4-5 p.m.
Premieres
Kotaku is covering everything at Anime Expo 2023, including big announcements at panels and exclusive one-on-one interviews with the industry’s biggest creators. Whether you’re a seasoned anime fan or a newbie, you can keep up with all things Anime Expo 2023 here.
