LSU legend Shaquille O’Neal questioned the greatness of Caitlin Clark after Iowa lost to Angel Reese and the Tigers in the NCAA women’s championship game. O’Neal acknowledged that Clark is the best player in college basketball but she failed to win what mattered most.
On “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” co-host Nischelle Turner discussed Clark’s storied tournament run. However, O’Neal interrupted Turner to criticize the Hawkeyes superstar.
“All the bad people I know close the deal,” O’Neal said. “I’m not going to listen. You don’t get cookies for second place. Can she shoot? Yes. Is she a great player? Yes… she Can play, one of the best college players.”
•
“But you have to close the deal, brother. That’s like saying, ‘He’s the best home run hitter in baseball and then he strikes out when you and I buy tickets and go to the game.’ I don’t want to hear that shit.”
Shaquille O’Neal has a valid point that Caitlin Clark and Iowa didn’t seal the deal against the LSU Tigers. However, Clark was arguably the best women’s college player in the tournament, averaging 31.8 per game during March Madness.
Clark also broke the single tournament record for total points and assists. It should be noted that O’Neal is from LSU, so there is a sure bias on his part. The Tigers were simply the better team overall, with five players reaching double figures in the final.
However, basketball has always been a team game, and it’s a matter of what if. What if O’Neal didn’t have Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade? He would have won four championships? Would Clark have won the national title if he had better teammates?
Also read: ‘I’m fine, USA’: Shaquille O’Neal dismisses hip injury concerns and thanks fans for looking out for him.
Shaquille O’Neal praises Angel Reese
Shaquille O’Neal might be the most famous athlete to come out of LSU. He was a dominant force during his time with the Tigers, which is the main reason he was drafted first overall in 1992. However, he failed to lead LSU to a national championship.
On the same episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” the Hall of Famer big man wondered if Angel Reese is the best athlete to come out of LSU. O’Neal pointed out how Reese brought the first NCAA championship to the university.
“She’s probably the best athlete to come out of LSU sports,” O’Neal said. “You heard it here first. Male and female, never. Because guess what? She delivered. She delivered that package. Look, a lot of us received the package, and we still have the package in our truck. She delivered that package. So, You know, there are a lot of names you could throw around, men and women, but she’s probably the best athlete.”
Also read: ‘I think the teacher will give him a hall pass’: Zach Lavine expects Diar DeRozan to return for Heat game as he grapples with going back to school