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Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t having it with ex-NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III on Tuesday after he recently took to social media to amplify a racist edit of WNBA star Angel Reese’s cover for the NBA 2K video game series.
“RGIII, tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I’m going to punch you in your fucking face,” said O’Neal, who took off his sunglasses and directed his message toward the camera on the “Off The Record” podcast.
“K? It’s enough. Like, I don’t usually do stuff like this, but stop it, bro.”
The comments from the NBA icon — a mentor to Reese, who played college hoops at his alma mater LSU — arrive after Griffin shared a screenshot of a post depicting her as a monkey on the cover of the “NBA 2K26” WNBA edition.
It marks the Chicago Sky forward’s first video game cover, which she celebrated on X last week.
Griffin also used his post to continue his history of claiming that Reese “hates” fellow WNBA star Caitlin Clark, a narrative that’s been floated since the two competed in college and one that’s sparked discussions on racism and sexism.
Both players have shut down talk of any beef between them, noting that they’re strictly competitive on the court and have respect for each other.
The post by Griffin, who has claimed that he was expressing “support” for Reese by condemning racism toward her, sparked swift backlash.
One X user pointed out that the original post with the racist edit saw little traction on the platform before Griffin shared it to his 2.2 million followers.
The WNBA star and her mother, Angel Webb Reese, also appeared to call out Griffin for “lying” about her hating Clark.
On the “Off The Record” podcast, O’Neal tore apart Griffin’s “hate” talk.
“That’s not real hate. You look around at what’s going on in this real country, that’s hate. This is sports, I’m not supposed to like you,” O’Neal said.
He proceeded to call on Griffin to “leave those girls alone” before noting that he reminded Angel Reese that she doesn’t have to “indulge with these fools.”
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“I’m her protector. Now pick on me. You pick on me, I’m going to punch you in your fucking face,” said O’Neal, who Reese once described as a “father figure.”
He continued to go after Griffin, who has hosted a podcast following his NFL career, “All these athletes, if you’re remembered for your podcast and not for what you did as a person who plays sports, you ain’t shit.”
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