Leave it to our man Shaqto drop a hot take that gets everyone talking. Once again, the NBA legend—aka The Big Aristotle, Diesel, and Shaq-a-Claus—has stirred up a court-sized debate by suggesting the WNBA lower its rims from the standard 10 feet. His reasoning? More dunks, more excitement, more money. Simple, right? Well, not everyone agrees, especially not reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson.
This isn’t the first time O’Neal has suggested lowering the rims for the lady’s game. Earlier this year, Shaq made his case during an episode of Angel Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast. His pitch: lower the rims, get more dunks, and watch the viewership (and paychecks) skyrocket. Fast forward to this past Sunday, and Shaq doubled down on Instagram, calling out Wilson directly and pushing his idea as a game-changer for the league.
Shaq wrote: “60% of fans said dunking is their favorite thing. The WNBA has none of that. So they make much less money. Just trying to get you that $300 million you deserve, @aja22wilson.” Shaq also tagged himself in the post, but with something new: #shaqwbnacommissioner. Hmmm… is the big guy looking for a new job?
So, O’Neal’s comments didn’t stop there. He also threw in a little marketing genius: “Do it for the WNBA All-Star Game and watch the ratings go through the roof.” Love him or roll your eyes at him, the man knows how to keep things spicy.
The BIG Podcast with SHAQ
But here’s the thing: A’ja Wilson—and a lot of her peers—aren’t buying what Shaq’s selling. Wilson, a three-time MVP, clapped back during an appearance on The Roommates Show alongside Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Her argument? Lowering the rims isn’t just unnecessary; it could actually mess up the game.
“What is it gonna do?” Wilson asked, probably side-eyeing the hypothetical short rims. “I would much rather just gear my offseason to, ‘Okay, vertical, maxing it out, let’s focus on this jumping,’ versus lowering it an inch? That could change all of our shots. Do y’all not understand that?”
Wilson does make a point there… Adjusting the rims would mean reworking years of muscle memory, not to mention shaking up the entire rhythm of the game. Basketball is one of the few sports where men and women play with identical court specs—no adjustments for height or strength. It’s a level playing field that, some argue, should stay that way.
Now, to Shaq’s credit, the man has a knack for thinking big (literally and figuratively). He’s not just about dunking; he’s about boosting the WNBA’s visibility and revenue, which is a mission we can all get behind. It’s true that dunks are rare in the WNBA—Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones are among the few who’ve thrown it down in-game—but does the lack of jams really need fixing?
Some fans and players argue that the WNBA’s finesse, strategy, and fundamentals are what make it special. Legends like Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, and Elena Delle Donne have proven that basketball greatness isn’t about the height of the rim—it’s about skill, passion, and grit.
So, is Shaq onto something, or is this just another one of his larger-than-life ideas? Either way, he’s got people talking, which is probably the point. Love him or leave his rim-lowering pitch, Shaq’s heart is in the right place: he wants to see the WNBA thrive. And hey, if nothing else, maybe the next WNBA All-Star Game should include a just for fun lower-the-rims dunk contest. Imagine A’ja Wilson skying for a poster dunk while Shaq hoots from the sidelines. Now that would be must-see TV.
What do you think—Shaq’s idea: slam dunk or airball? Let us know in the comments!