When Shaquille O’Neal’s trivial suggestion for WNBA instantly fired back at him: “I have a way to make it equal”
Shaquille O'Neal has been known to make some pretty crazy claims over the years, but by far one of the craziest came last March. During an episode of "NBA on TNT" with the backup desk crew, O'Neal made arguably his craziest claim yet.
With two-time WNBA champion Candace Parker sitting alongside him, O'Neal began to speak. The Big Diesel explained that he believed the WNBA should consider lowering the height of the rims so that players could dunk. It was a suggestion that has been proposed before, but not by someone as respected in the basketball world as Shaq.
Naturally, the comments were met with harsh criticism from Candace Parker, who defended playing at a regulation height. With WNBA players all growing up training and playing on 10-foot rims their entire lives, a change would be incredibly strange. O'Neal started the conversation by saying:
"Ten year ago, the WNBA game was here, NBA game is here (gestures widely with his hands). Now, it's here (gestures closer with hands). I have a way to make it equal. Just listen to me now, you ready?"
As his coworkers explained that they've heard it before and Parker began to seemingly become annoyed with the situation, O'Neal continued:
"So, in beach volleyball the women's net is maybe, half a inch lower, you think if we just lowered the rim so y'all can dunk like we dunk, that would give y'all more oomph than you already have."
But it didn't stop there.
Candace Parker fires back at Shaquille O'Neal
Candace Parker immediately interjected, shutting down Shaq's line of questioning with a sharp "no." Regardless, he continued, explaining that the WNBA game has caught up to the NBA over the years.
"Listen, y'all are doing the stepbacks, the pullbacks, y'all doing everything we're doing," O'Neal said, "but I don't see a lot of people going up with two hands and ..."
Parker then jumped in, assuring O'Neal that the monster dunks he wants to see are coming sooner rather than later.
"Oh, it's coming. Opportunity is a b. ... Opportunity is a ... I guarantee, Layla, she's into dance, but my next child will be drop-step dunking. I promise you. I'm telling you."
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Candace Parker and Shaquille O'Neal verbally sparring in the past
Of course, this isn't the first time Candace Parker and Shaquille O'Neal have gone at it behind the desk. Last year, Parker and O'Neal verbally sparred as the Hall of Famer questioned why switching on pick and rolls is common now. As Shaq questioned at the time, why are so many players switching instead of playing-man to-man.
Parker tried to explain that now, with many centers capable of shooting 3-pointers, you have to switch in order to prevent a big man from hitting a 3-pointer. With O'Neal seemingly confused, Parker and Dwyane Wade explained that the game has become so perimeter-focused.
You can view the entire exchange in the video below.
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