Angel Reese thought she was giving Shaquille O’Neal an opportunity to say something on camera. Instead, the former NBA champion used the moment to turn the tables on the Atlanta Dream star by copying one of her most recognizable celebrations.

The incident happened on the sidelines at Tiger Stadium before LSU’s football team faced Alabama on Saturday.

Reese, who played college basketball for the Tigers, was spending time with O’Neal, another famous LSU alumnus, when she pointed her camera towards him and asked him to say something.

Rather than delivering a message, the four-time NBA champion brought his thumb and index finger together to perform the “too small” gesture that has become closely associated with Reese.

The reaction was immediate. Reese could be heard responding, “it’s okay, it’s okay,” before playfully pushing her camera towards O’Neal as though she were taking a shot at him.

The exchange appeared lighthearted, but it was another reminder that Reese has struggled to escape the consequences of using the celebration during the WNBA Finals. Even someone she considers a mentor has now joined in the teasing.

O’Neal’s involvement is particularly interesting because the pair share a close relationship that goes beyond their connection to LSU.

Reese has previously described the basketball legend as a father figure, making the exchange look more like friendly banter than a serious disagreement.

How Reese’s own celebration became a running joke

The gesture originally attracted widespread attention during Game 3 of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries.

Atlanta had taken control of the contest, eventually winning 97-71 to move ahead 2-1 in the series. With less than 30 seconds remaining, Reese directed the “too small” motion towards Golden State’s bench, seemingly suggesting that the Valkyries were not physically capable of stopping her.

However, the series took a very different direction after that result.

Golden State recovered to win the next two games before Atlanta forced a deciding seventh contest. The Valkyries ultimately secured the championship with a 68-63 victory on October 31.

Gabby Williams was the standout performer, scoring 30 points, including 28 in the second half, to earn Finals MVP honors. Reese finished the deciding game with eight points and 12 rebounds.

The celebrations afterwards brought more attention to Reese’s earlier taunt. Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg copied the gesture while celebrating the championship, while former Golden State center Festus Ezeli took the joke further during the team’s November 4 parade.

Ezeli displayed a shirt showing Reese performing the celebration, with her face replaced by the famous crying Michael Jordan meme. He subsequently wore the shirt and mimicked the gesture himself.

O’Neal has now added his name to that growing list.

Why Shaq and Reese share such a close bond

The teasing is unlikely to change the relationship between the two basketball figures.

O’Neal played at LSU between 1989 and 1992, becoming one of the university’s most celebrated athletes before embarking on his Hall of Fame NBA career.

Reese also spent two seasons with the Tigers, winning the 2023 NCAA national championship before being selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Their connection became especially visible in March 2024, when O’Neal joined Reese’s mother to escort her onto the court for LSU Senior Day.

Reese has previously explained how much his support means to her, describing him as someone who has stood beside her through difficult periods and cares about her as a person rather than simply as an athlete.

That makes the latest exchange a particularly amusing moment. O’Neal clearly knows exactly which button to press, and Reese’s playful response suggests she understood the joke.

Still, with the Finals defeat and subsequent celebrations keeping the “too small” gesture alive, the Atlanta star may have to accept that opponents, former players and even her closest basketball mentor are not going to let her forget it anytime soon.