Angel Reese Details Shaquille O'Neal's Mentorship Amid Reebok Campaign originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is not just the face of Reebok's "Pretty Gritty" sneaker campaign -- she's also receiving guidance from one of the greatest big men ever to play the game.
Reese, who partnered with Reebok for the launch of its Engine A sneaker line, revealed she's been in regular contact with Shaquille O'Neal, the brand's President of Basketball. His mentorship, she said, has had a meaningful impact on her early WNBA career.
"He actually called me yesterday," Reese told DallasHoopsJournal.com. "He was like, 'I hope you're not getting soft reading the comments.' I was like, 'Of course not. Never that.'"
O'Neal hasn't just been offering encouragement -- he's also helped refine her game with film study and situational advice.
"He told me, 'Just because you can get all the rebounds, take your time on the shot,'" Reese said. "Then he walked me through film clips -- just finishing around the basket better, taking advantage of my opportunities."
Reese, who is averaging 9.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game for the Sky, said she doesn't take the mentorship for granted.
"He's obviously one of the greatest scorers and rebounders ever," she said. "So to have him in my corner, in my back pocket? That's huge."
The collaboration comes as part of Reebok's broader relaunch of its basketball division, with O'Neal and Allen Iverson leading a new generation of athlete ambassadors that includes Reese and Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington. Reese's "Pretty Gritty" Engine A colorway debuted on May 15 and features her personal "AR" halo logo, honoring her late grandmother.
"I'm not in too much of the [Power Moves] documentary," Reese said of Reebok's Netflix film. "But just some of the stuff we've done creatively behind the scenes -- like my shoe drop -- was part of that process."
While her role in the film may be limited, Reese's presence in Reebok's comeback is central. And with O'Neal in her ear, she's looking to build more than a brand.
"You're going to continue to see more people wearing Reebok -- men's and women's," she said. "We're just adding pieces. That's what this is all about."