Angela Reese makes her long-awaited comeback with a warning for haters: “Just make sure that apology is as loud as the disrespect.”
The 21-year-old returned to the hardwood for the first time since the LSU Tigers played Kent State on November 14. Angel helped her team secure a victory over Virginia Tech, scoring 19 points and nine rebounds during her 29 minutes of play.
TMZ reports that during a post-game interview, Reese revealed the reason behind her 4-game absence. She took time away from the court for a mental health break with daily moral support from Shaq. The First-Team All-American explained that she did not want to be “a cancer in the locker room.”
Angel Reese came in postgame, said, “who’s happy to see me?! I know y’all are!”She’s talked a lot about her mental health, taking time for herself and how important that was for her.
I asked her who she leaned on during the last couple of weeks. She talked a lot with Shaq: pic.twitter.com/kHcK8UdqNW
— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) December 1, 2023
As Angel walked into the press area, she quipped, “How happy are y’all to see me? I know y’all are. Let’s have some fun here,” before taking a seat.
After questioning began, she told journalists, “My mental health is the most important thing before anything. And I’m going to make sure I’m OK before anything. Because I don’t want to cause anything, harm or any cancer within the locker room.”
She continued, “So, being able to take a reset to myself. Like I said before, I am human. I’m not just an athlete and that’s OK to do. Pro’s do it all the time.”
Angel added, “So, whatever stories that were wrote and written, don’t believe everything you read. I’m back, and I’m happy, and I’m here. And I’m moving forward, and I’m gonna help take this team as far as I can.”
The Bayou Barbie has received support from some big names, including retired baller Shaquille O’Neal. Angel claims Shaq calls her daily to “check in.”
“Having supportive people has been really important to me,” she said.
After naming her mother as the main character in her supporting cast, she said, “I talk to Shaq everyday. He FaceTimes me everyday. He checked on me. He called me every single day to make sure I was good. He told me everyday this too shall pass.”
She continued, “He’s been here before. He knows what it takes and just being able to have somebody like that was something that was really good for me.”
“He told me when I was right. He told me when I was wrong. He told me what I needed to do to get back to where I needed to be and I know he’s gonna call me after the game, if he hasn’t already.”
Watch Angel Reese’s post-game interview below.
