“WNBA doesn’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think it pays one of my bills, literally,” heartbreakingly admitted Angel Reese on an Instagram Live this month, as she talked about her financial battle off the court.

Pocketing $73,439 a year from the WNBA, the alarming is, however, helped by the multitude of endorsement deals and collaborations that help her maintain her luxurious lifestyle. One of her most exciting partnerships launched in August with The Hershey Company, a well-known candy brand. However, a recent revelation on her podcast suggests she might not have sealed it all alone. And she was able to settle scores with this person as well.

On Thursday, Chicago Sky forward released another exciting episode of her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, and this time, she welcomed none other than her mentor, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, to the show. Staying true to her podcast tradition, Reese gave a shout-out to “Reese’s Pieces” at the end (for her collaboration with Hershey’s), celebrating the sweet candy deal she secured in August.

And while she did that, Shaq playfully seized the moment to boast about his influence in securing that deal. “You’re welcome, by the way. Who hooked that deal up?” he quipped—his signature humor shining through. Initially, Reese brushed off the question, but her uncle was relentless. He reiterated his inquiry, this time making sure to draw attention to Chi-Town Barbie’s notice.

This time, Reese caught on to Shaq’s teasing question and shot back with a single-word response: “You!” It basically meant that the Lakers legend helped Reese get that deal inked with the $40 billion worth company. He continued to boast as he added, “Uncle Shaq, you know, I always got your back.” 

For the unversed: Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese have known each other since February 2023, when Reese hosted the NBA legend’s daughter Me’Arah for an official visit to LSU. While Shaq’s daughter eventually committed to Florida, the chance encounter launched an endearing uncle-niece relationship between the two stars. Ahead of the Tigers vs Mississippi State’s game last year, O’Neal had even challenged Reese to score 20 points and 20 rebounds. The Bayou-Barbie’s answer? 23 points and 26 rebounds on 8-of-18 shooting in the 74-59 victory, strengthening her bond with Diesel.

USA Today via Reuters

As for the Hershey’s deal, Shaq helping Reese makes sense, especially since the former Los Angeles Lakers player also signed a deal with the same brand. Just days after Reese’s announcement, he launched two versions of “Shaq-A-Licious” oversized candy gummies. It suggests he might have had talks already going on with the brand and that’s how he helped Reese too, even before himself. But it’s not just about business; Shaq also supported Reese personally by clearing some of her debts to him, thanks to his late arrival on the show.

Angel Reese settled debts with Shaquille O’Neal

While the conversation about Hershey’s came toward the end of the episode, things kicked off, with Shaquille O’Neal offering an apology to Angel Reese. When the Chicago Sky forward asked him to elaborate, he sheepishly admitted he had shown up two hours late—a rarity for the NBA legend. To make up for the delay, Shaq expressed his desire to treat Reese to something special. Seizing the moment, she playfully brought up some old debts she owed him, turning the lighthearted banter into a chance to settle up.

“Let’s just cuz I know they were saying like, ‘I owe you 100K.’ So let’s just clear our bet right,” Reese put forward her demand which was quickly accepted by Shaq as he replied, “I got you, it’s cleared.” This unsettled score appears to stem from a playful moment made earlier this month when Reese posted a fun video on her Instagram of the Los Angeles Lakers legend casually shooting hoops on the court.

While filming Shaq, Reese playfully threw down the gauntlet, challenging him with, “$100,000 if you make this shot.” Without missing a beat, O’Neal sank the basket, prompting Reese to burst into cheers. She couldn’t help but caption the video, “I guess I owe him $100K 😭.” Hence, when the opportunity came to Reese’s table to settle it up, she seized it right away.

These moments highlight Shaq’s unwavering support for Reese, which has even contributed to her landing a signature deal with Reebok, after Shaq started serving as the president of basketball operations. “For my first appointment in this role, it had to be the GOAT,” O’Neal said. “There is no one making a bigger impact on the game right now than Angel Reese.”

Last year, he even said, “She’s (Reese) probably the greatest athlete to come out of LSU sports.” With a legend at the Chi-Town Barbie’s side, her future looks even brighter.