Angel Reese made the “too small” gesture famous, and now it keeps coming back to her. The latest and most viral example came from none other than Shaquille O’Neal, who aimed the celebration right at her camera on the LSU sideline over the weekend. The clip spread quickly across social media, with fans laughing at Reese’s reaction as much as at Shaq’s timing.

Here is what happened and why it became one of the weekend’s most shared sports moments, based on reporting from the New York Post and EssentiallySports.

The moment on the sideline

On Saturday, November 7, the two LSU legends were hanging out before LSU’s home game against Alabama at Tiger Stadium, which LSU went on to lose 31-13. Reese was filming O’Neal and asked him to say something for the camera.

Instead of talking, Shaq pressed two fingers together and gave her the “too small” sign. In the video, Reese can be heard saying “it’s okay, it’s okay” before playfully pushing her camera right into his face as if she were taking a shot at the four-time NBA champion.

Why “too small” keeps following Reese

The gesture is a taunt meaning an opponent is too small to stop you. It has trailed Reese since she used it during the WNBA Finals, according to the Post.

That series went the full seven games, and the Golden State Valkyries won the decisive Game 7, 68-63. Since then, the celebration has been turned back on her more than once, including at the Valkyries’ championship parade. Shaq’s version simply added the most famous face yet to the list.

Shaq’s nine-word response

As the clip spread, O’Neal posted a short message on Instagram: “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet, people.” Fans read it as a wink, a reminder that the moment was a joke between friends rather than any kind of feud.

That fits what is known about their relationship. O’Neal starred at LSU from 1989 to 1992 and has become something of a mentor and father figure to Reese, who played two seasons there and won a national championship before becoming the No. 7 overall pick in the WNBA draft.

Why the clip went viral

The video checks every box for a weekend viral hit:

  • Two huge personalities. Both have massive followings, and fans of both shared it.
  • A known inside joke. Anyone who followed the WNBA Finals instantly got the reference.
  • A genuine reaction. Reese’s laugh and her playful comeback made it feel real, not staged.
  • Short and replayable. It takes only a few seconds, which makes it perfect for reposting.

How fans reacted

The reaction online was overwhelmingly lighthearted. Many fans pointed out that Reese seemed to be in on the joke, and plenty of comments focused on how quickly she fired back with her own bit of camera comedy. Others simply enjoyed seeing two LSU greats goofing around together on a big game day in Baton Rouge.

The lighter side of sports trash talk

Celebrations like “too small” are part of what makes modern sports fun to follow online. Players use them to fire up teammates and fans, and they often get thrown back at them later. When it is done in good humor, as this clearly was, it becomes part of the story rather than a source of bad blood.

The wrap

Shaq got his joke in, Reese got her comeback, and the internet got a clip it could watch on repeat. As long as fans remember those WNBA Finals, expect the “too small” sign to keep showing up wherever Angel Reese goes.

Image: Angular Basketball Hoop by MarkBuckawicki via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0