Hip-hop artist and media mogul Joe Budden sent WNBA rookie Angel Reese a stern message about her image.

After a rookie season in which Reese at one point held the WNBA’s single-season rebounding record, but was unable to maintain it following season-ending surgery, Reese has focused on building his brand off the court.

The 22-year-old women’s basketball star started her own podcast, “Unapolagetically Angel,” before she was even done with her rookie season and continued to release episodes every week even after her WNBA season ended early due to a wrist injury in early September.

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Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark watch during the second half against the Chicago Sky on June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The podcast has sparked controversy on several occasions, including in the very first episode when she spoke out against rival Caitlin Clark’s fans, claiming they had sent her death threats and taken explicit AI images of her and sent them to her family. In her latest episode, Reese interviewed Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend about her past relationship. This interview sparked intense criticism, particularly from fans of Kelce’s new girlfriend Taylor Swift.

Now, in an episode of his Sports Illustrated podcast, “The Joe Budden Podcast,” Budden has advised Reese to step back from the non-basketball-related advertising that has dogged her in recent months. Budden referenced a recent stage appearance by Reese during Nick Cannon’s “Wild ‘N Out” tour in Chicago.

“I saw Angel Reese Wild, I don’t know if I saw her on ‘Wild N’ Out,'” Budden said. “Angel Reese won’t sit down for a second…She won’t sit down anywhere for a second. That has value.”

“This will sound like I’m telling women what to do. But I don’t.”

IN THE IMPACT OF CAITLIN CLARK AND ANGEL REESE ON MEN’S BASKETBALL

September 22, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; WNBA basketball player Angel Reese attends the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Budden also made a point of comparing Reese’s off-the-field habits to Clark’s. However, he also clarified that the comparison was not based on race.

“Whoever has (Reese) is telling her to show up everywhere. Caitlin Clark’s people don’t say that so as not to make it racist… We’ve got some star rookie s— right now,” he said.

Clark ended up being named WNBA Rookie of the Year ahead of Reese, receiving all but one vote for the award. The only vote against Clark was for Reese. However, it’s a vote that sparked intense backlash in the women’s basketball community, as Clark outperformed the Sky rookie in every statistical category except rebounds.

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August 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) attempts to pass the ball against the Las Vegas Aces during the first half at Wintrust Arena. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)

Unlike Reese, Clark doesn’t have a podcast and hasn’t made any controversial comments during or after her rookie season.

The extent of Clark’s off-court notoriety so far has been her attending other sporting events, often with her boyfriend Connor McCaffery. Clark and McCaffery sat courtside at the Indiana Pacers’ preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. In August, the two attended a New York Yankees game and she took photos with stars Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

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