Shaquille O'Neal is a jovial "Inside The NBA" panelist on ESPN and shrewd businessman frequently seen as a pitchman in TV commercials.
The Hall of Famer and former Phoenix Suns center reflected his capitalist sense to OutKick on Thursday, Oct. 8, about how the Indiana Fever's Kelsey Mitchell can get more money instead of focusing on Fever fans' racist comments while Mitchell is playing next to superstar, Caitlin Clark.
The four-time All-Star Mitchell, who's Black, enters free agency this upcoming offseason. She spoke during her team's end-of-season press conference on Oct. 3, about how it's "hard" to play alongside Clark while getting "flak" and online hate.
The Fever were eliminated by the defending champion Las Vegas Aces two days earlier, in the first
round of the WNBA playoffs.
“My advice is to take advantage of all the eyes that are there," O'Neal said. "If the eyes are on one person and you’re next to that person, take advantage of them. If you’re playing next to somebody that has eyes that can bring you extra income, make sure you always stay next to that person.”
O'Neal further explained about his own career that media attention, regardless of market size, and staying alongside superstars can help create higher compensation.
"(I went to) a small high school, still being the No. 1 player in the country, starting off in a small market, eventually going to a big market, but then returning back to a small market and win another championship," O’Neal said.
O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic out of Louisiana State in 1992, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and played for the Miami Heat, the Suns from 2008-09, then the Cavaliers and Celtics.
Mitchell was the league's second-best scorer at 24.7 points per game this season, behind the Aces' five-time MVP A'ja Wilson.
Clark addressed the media on Oct. 8, in reaction to Mitchell's comments. She called Mitchell a "good soul" and is aware of how burdensome the attention Clark brings to the team, but regrets the racism and politicization of her stardom.
"As far as people that have used me to demonstrate racist rhetoric, or hate, or discrimination, that's not something I stand for," Clark said. "It's never been something I've stood for. For those of you that know me, they (know) that's not what I'm about. It's not how I was raised, so that's really disappointing when people do that. ...
"Anytime I see something like that (it) makes me upset, makes me sad, makes me really disappointed because that's not who I am."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Shaq advises WNBA star to focus on money, not racist Caitlin Clark fans
