NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has claimed that he will ‘punch’ former NFL star Robert Griffin III over his recent comments on Angel Reese.

Griffin made headlines earlier this month when he waded into debate over Chicago Sky star Reese being selected as a NBA 2K26 cover star.

However, in doing so, he also brought attention to one social media user editing the cover to feature a monkey in place of Reese – while also doubling down on a claim that the Sky star ‘hates’ WNBA rival Caitlin Clark.

Reese swiftly fired back at Griffin with a subtle post on X aimed at the NFL-star-turned-analyst. Griffin then doubled down on his claims, once more.

Now, NBA legend O’Neal has joined the debate and threatened to ‘punch’ Griffin he makes further comments on the WNBA star.

On the ‘Off the Record’ podcast, O’Neal said: ‘RG3? Tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I’m going to punch you in your f***ing face’.

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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal hit out at Robert Griffin III over his comments on Angel Reese

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Griffin – or RGIII – claimed that Chicago Sky star Reese ‘hates’ WNBA rival Caitlin Clark

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Reese hit back at RGIII – pictured with wife Grete – before the ex-NFL star doubled down

‘I don’t usually do stuff like this but just stop it, bro. You’ve got your job, you’ve got your podcast… leave my Angel Reese alone.

‘I’m the one calling her and telling her not to respond. F***ing stop it. That’s the last time. Okay? Thank you’.

‘It’s not real hate. If 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!

‘It’s a shame that [for] all the stuff that you did in your life, you’re going to be remembered for a podcast. That should tell you that you’re not that f***ing great.

‘Leave those girls alone, you already spoke on it. Let it go. Don’t pick on that little girl. Because guess what? I’m her protector. Now pick on me. And if you pick on me, I’m going to punch you in your f***ing face’.

The confusing saga began when Griffin attempted to defend Reese online after she was criticized for being chosen for the cover of a new video game, NBA 2K26.

One racist post from an unidentified X user photoshopped the cover to make Reese, who is African American, appear as a monkey.

But in his misguided effort to stick up for Reese, Griffin claimed to know her on-court beef with Clark wasn’t just in the minds of media and fans, adding that the Sky star’s inner circle had confirmed this to him.

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In an attempt to defend Reese from racism, Griffin dropped a Caitlin Clark ‘hate’ bombshell

The claims triggered a furious response from Reese, who indirectly hit back at the retired QB

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The former NFL star refused to let the issue rest, maintaining he was telling the truth

Reese wasn’t buying it and accused Griffin of ‘lying on this app… for clout’.

‘… Everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle,’ Reese said, apparently insisting Griffin wasn’t communicating with anyone close to her.

Ultimately she called Griffin’s post ‘nastyyy work.’

Griffin defended himself online after Reese and Clark’s comments Wednesday morning.

‘Alright. This has got to stop,’ Griffin wrote on X. ‘There is no place for racism in this world. Whether you like a player or not. Angel Reese should never be called or depicted as a Monkey,’ he wrote in a post to X referencing the vile reaction to Reese’s cover.

‘I have been quiet on the Angel Reese front because she shared a video that aided in my wife, kids, family and friends receiving death threats, threats of physical harm to my family and friends and threats of sexual violence to my children on social media and beyond.

‘That will never be okay with me. I never attacked her or her family when I stated and backed up with clear basketball evidence that Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark. It’s sports. Everybody won’t like each other.’

Griffin refused to let the issue rest in a later post.

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Chicago Sky star Reese joined an exclusive club of WNBA stars to feature on a 2K cover

‘I spoke up in support of Angel Reese against racism not to start drama,’ he later shared.

‘But I won’t let anyone twist the truth just because it’s inconvenient to them. Instead of trying to check me, just tighten up your circle.

‘They calling me and saying you hate Caitlin Clark, not the other way around.

‘I have zero interest in being the villain in anyone’s story. I just want to have fun, tell the truth and celebrate sports. But I won’t pretend or lie just to protect feelings.’