Shaquille O'Neal addresses Fever's Kelsey Mitchell's remarks on Caitlin Clark, says to leverage the spotlight
Shaquille O’Neal Offers Free‑Agent Insight to Kelsey Mitchell on Capitalizing on Caitlin Clark’s Spotlight
During the Indiana Fever’s end‑of‑season press conference on Saturday, veteran star Kelsey Mitchell found herself in the spotlight for a reason beyond her own performance. “It’s a strange adjustment,” Mitchell said. “Because the attention Caitlin Clark draws, we get a lot of flak for being on the same team.” The 30‑year‑old forward, who has been an All‑Star every season for the past four years and averaged a career‑best 24.7 points per game, is set to become a free agent in late January.
The former NBA champion, Shaquille O’Neal, who once played in both small markets and the biggest stages of the league, stepped in to give Mitchell some seasoned advice. Speaking with OutKick after the Fever’s press event, O’Neal urged the Fever forward to “take advantage of all the eyes that are.” He added, “If the eyes are on one person and you’re next to that person, take advantage of them.” In a nod to the business side of the game, O’Neal said, “Make sure you always stay next to that person.” The former center, who was a four‑time NBA champion and a key figure in the sport’s early embrace of social media, also praised Mitchell as a “beautiful young lady and a fabulous young lady,” though he declined to weigh in on her future decisions, citing the athlete code of conduct.
Mitchell’s comments about the Fever’s organization and the intense media focus on her teammate sparked speculation that she might explore other teams after nine seasons with the franchise. While she has publicly expressed admiration for Indiana’s system, she also said she appreciates the “benefits of attention” that come with playing alongside a rising star like Clark. Her remarks, which drew both praise and criticism, highlighted the complex dynamics that can arise when a high‑profile teammate dominates headlines.
O’Neal’s own career path—from a small high‑school program to the NBA’s biggest arenas—offers a blueprint for balancing personal brand and team success. He recounted his journey: “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.” The former center has long been a pioneer in athlete branding, working with his brand manager, Leonard Armato, to build a public image grounded in authenticity.
Armato explained to OutKick that the cornerstone of a successful brand is not merely self‑promotion but sound business decision‑making. “Athletes can be their own media companies,” Armato noted, underscoring how technology amplified O’Neal’s visibility during the early days of social media. O’Neal echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of staying true to oneself. “Image is reality,” he said of a meeting with an image consulting firm where he insisted on maintaining his authentic persona. He described himself as “the ambassador of fun,” a role he has carried into every public appearance and endorsement deal.
When asked about learning from missteps, O’Neal offered a candid reflection. “Every time I fail, I try to memorize what I did wrong and just create a new program,” he said. “To build relationships you have to stay true to yourself and learn from your failures in a consistent way. That’s how you create a brand that will be known beyond your playing years.” Armato pointed out that one common mistake athletes make is surrounding themselves with the wrong people, a theme he explores in his upcoming book, MAXIMIZE, for which O’Neal wrote the foreword.
For Mitchell, the advice is clear: leverage the spotlight that comes with Caitlin Clark’s media presence. Whether she opts to sign with the Fever or pursue a new opportunity, the strategic guidance from a Hall of Famer who has navigated the same waters may prove invaluable. As the 2024 WNBA season closes, all eyes will remain on the Fever’s star forward as she enters free agency and considers her next chapter—whether that means staying in Indiana’s orbit or carving out a new path elsewhere.