Shaquille O’Neal reveals his totally unbiased pick for WNBA Rookie of the Year

Past the midway point of the 2024 WNBA season, the race for the Rookie of the Year award is essentially down to two names, including No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky star Angel Reese. 

However, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal revealed his pick, which shouldn’t be hard to guess for anyone paying attention.

On Wednesday, Shaq explained why he’s giving Reese his vote, claiming no bias at all despite their relationship and the fact that they both played at LSU.

“I know she remembers a lot of people saying, ‘the way you play at LSU is not going to translate in this game,’ and I know she took that to heart,” O’Neal said on ESPN’s Sportscenter. “So happy for her. So happy for her team. I’m not saying this because she went to LSU, but I think she’s definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race.”

O’Neal didn’t knock Clark, calling her a “tremendous player.” But it’s clear why he’d side with Reese.

Over the years, O’Neal has been a mentor of sorts for Reese, who revealed before the season that their tight bond goes beyond the basketball court. In an interview back in January, she said things between the two wouldn’t be different even if she weren’t playing basketball.

“He doesn’t care about me as a player, he cares about me as a person,” Reese told Lindsay Schnell of USA Today.

Meanwhile, O’Neal has even more reason to push the Sky standout for Rookie of the Year honors. Only a week after being named the president of basketball operations at Reebok in October 2023, he inked his first major NIL signee in Reese.

That’s not to say that O’Neal’s endorsement is without merit. Reese ranks first among rookies in rebounds per game (11.9) and second in points (13.5).

But, when making a genuine comparison of the numbers, the argument for Clark is much stronger.

Reese tops Clark in only two statistical categories — rebounds and field goal percentage (.402). However, a deeper dive reveals an even more one-sided advantage for the Fever star.

From outside eight feet, it’s no contest, with Reese shooting 25% (11-of-44) while Clark has shot 33.8% (77-of-228). Reese doesn’t stray too far from the basket as a six-foot-three forward, so that might be an unfair comparison, but Clark has also posted better numbers in close.

Reese’s strengths shine under and around the basket. Though from eight feet or closer, she’s shooting only 43% (104-of-242), compared to Clark, who’s shot 54.3% (51-of-94) from the same distance.  

Meanwhile, of Reese’s 115 field goals, 95 have been layups, making them at a 42.4% clip. Clark has had far fewer chances but delivered more often, putting home 57.3% (47-of-82) of her layup opportunities.

Reese and Clark have impacted the WNBA tremendously while also helping it grow, for which they deserve accolades and praise. But despite both being worthy candidates for the Rookie of the Year honor, it’s really a one-horse race.