From praising each other to banters or even dancing in a TikTok trend, “Uncle Shaq” and Angel Reese share an unbreakable and special bond. The former Lakers star, on countless occasions, seems to have backed the Baltimore native. Recently, Reese even opened up about how  Shaquille O’Neal has played a significant role in mentoring her, especially when it comes to off-court endeavors. During a Q&A session with Athlon Sports, the WNBA rebounding leader discussed Shaq’s influence while promoting her partnership with Cash App.

Angel Reese shared, “Shaq and I have always had a great relationship since the day we met, and he has been such a mentor to me both on and off the court.” Not only does O’Neal offer advice on perfecting her game, but he is also there to ensure she never makes the mistake he did, pushing her to think like a businesswoman. 

“He reminds me that I need to stay focused on basketball, but I should always be developing my off-court businesses too. He’s a true businessman and has helped me develop that same business mindset,” Reese explained, but what was that mistake?

Back in 1992, 20-year-old Shaquille O’Neal had cashed in on his first big endorsement deal from a trading card company. With a million-dollar check in hand, his excitement quickly led to reckless spending. “It was me being overly happy-slash-irresponsible,” Shaq recalled. Without hesitation, he bought multiple Mercedes-Benz cars, shelling out $400,000 for himself and his parents. But the splurging didn’t stop there; Shaq, thinking he still had $600,000 left, started buying jewelry. “I’ve gotta buy rings, diamonds, earrings—everything the homeboys had,” he admitted.

Reality hit hard when taxes came into play, and he realized his mistake. “I didn’t subtract the 15 percent, state tax, or FICA,” Shaq shared. Humbled by the experience, he vowed to get smarter with his money. “Luckily, I learned early. I don’t like missing two shots in a row, even if it’s a free throw,” he added. Now, with a net worth of around $500 million, Shaq has more than doubled his NBA earnings of $292 million – that’s the kind of success Angel Reese undoubtedly can achieve with his help.