NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has seen the WNBA grow significantly over the past season. With the likes of his favorite Angel Reese, along with Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson producing record breaking performances, the league is in good hands. But the big man wants to help it grow more.
In the past, the four-time champion had mentioned to Reese that if the women’s game had a slightly lower rim, it could lead to more entertaining basketball. The WNBA rebounding phenom instantly disagreed, but he tried to justify that it is the only thing missing from the women’s game.
Shaquille O’Neal wants women to earn millions from basketball and feels that one addition could help them. Recently, three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson was also asked about lowering the rim while on The Roommates Show.
However, she preferred to work on her athleticism and dunk than make it easier which will lose the competitiveness. O’Neal caught wind of this and decided to write this message on his Instagram.
60% of the fan said Dunking their favorite thing. The WNBA has none of that. So, they make much less money. Just trying to get you that 300 million dollars you deserve A’ja Wilson. Love y’all WNBA.
Shaquille O’Neal on Instagram
The 52-year-old was told that 60% of basketball fans love dunks. A’ja Wilson dunking freely will bring more fans to the league, hence netting her that $300 million contract he feels she deserves. The Las Vegas Aces superstar has not as of yet reacted to it, but her former teammate and O’Neal’s close friend did.
Shaquille O’Neal shut off by WNBA dunking legend
The subject of dunking in the WNBA is intriguing as not many have managed to do that. Brittney Griner has, but she is 6′ 9″ and was a regular dunker. What Shaquille O’Neal was referring to was to bring down the rim so that other stars could dunk. One of the few players to do it, Candace Parker though, was not having it.
Goodbye Shaq.
Candace Parker’s reply to Shaquille O’Neal
This was her reply to that Instagram message by her Inside the NBA colleague and good friend. O’Neal and Candace Parker share a very close bond. But this suggestion did not sit well with her. It also did not sit well the last time her 7′ 1″ friend told her while on Inside the NBA.
Candace Parker replies to Shaquille O’Neal’s suggestionThe now retired three-time WNBA champion believes it is disrespectful to the game. At the time, she argued that instead of bringing the rim down, women players should work on their athletic abilities just as her former teammate Wilson said.
Duke freshman Toby Fournier is one of the few at 6′ 2″ who can dunk in game. But she has not done it consistently in college. If she can work on her jumping abilities, she could be one of the few who can dunk multiple times. That could be the impetus women’s basketball players need to bring dunking into the WNBA.
