Shaquille O’Neal, the self-proclaimed Big Aristotle, has sparked yet another round of basketball discourse—this time targeting the WNBA’s rims. His audacious proposal? Lower the rim to boost dunks and, in his words, “get the ladies that $300 million they deserve.” But A’ja Wilson, the reigning WNBA MVP and Las Vegas Aces superstar, didn’t just reject the idea; she metaphorically dunked all over it.
O’Neal, clearly unfazed by years of criticism, took to Instagram to double down on his belief that rim-lowering is the secret sauce the WNBA needs. He cited a fan poll claiming “60% of the fans said dunking is their favorite thing,” as though basketball enthusiasts were merely deprived of a high-flying jam to complete their sporting experience. Shaq’s solution? Test out the lower rims during the All-Star Game. He even teased Wilson by tagging her directly, offering his version of financial advice. “Just trying to get you that $300 million you deserve, @aja22wilson,” he wrote. Who knew Shaq moonlighted as a financial planner?
Wilson, however, is not buying what the Diesel is selling. Appearing on The Roommates Show, she dismantled Shaq’s proposal with the precision of a swish-free throw. “What is it gonna do?” she asked, rhetorically dunking on the premise. Wilson, ever the realist, explained that such a change would wreak havoc on shooting mechanics and years of muscle memory. “Do y’all not understand that?” she quipped, channeling the collective eyeroll of professional hoopers everywhere.
Her argument isn’t just about stubbornness or tradition. Lowering the rims, she pointed out, would fundamentally alter the game’s fabric. Wilson emphasized that players could instead focus their offseason training on improving vertical jumps if dunking is suddenly the priority. But for now, the WNBA isn’t looking to reinvent its wheel—er, hoop.
The Fans Weigh In: Dunks or No Dunks?
Shaq’s suggestion echoes a debate as old as the WNBA itself. Lower rims, critics argue, would infantilize the game, suggesting that women need a “helping hand” to excite the crowd. But proponents see dunking as the golden ticket to better ratings. O’Neal himself compared it to adjustments in other sports like volleyball and track and field, which tailor events to gender-specific strengths. His logic: Why not basketball, too?
But here’s the twist—while dunks are undeniably thrilling, they’ve never been the sole measure of a basketball game’s appeal. Case in point: Caitlin Clark, the Iowa sensation, has captured national attention not with windmills or tomahawks but with her pinpoint threes and jaw-dropping assists. Fans tune in for skill, finesse, and drama—not just aerial theatrics.
The Bigger Picture
Wilson’s response underscores a crucial truth: the WNBA’s growth hinges on much more than just rim height. It’s about storytelling, marketing, and celebrating the dynamic athletes already redefining the game. Plus, let’s not ignore the strides the league has made, driven by the likes of Wilson herself, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu.
Shaq’s heart might be in the right place—if you squint hard enough—but his method? A little too Space Jam. As the WNBA evolves, Wilson’s stance serves as a reminder that progress doesn’t always come with a rulebook rewrite. Maybe next time, Shaq will float an idea that doesn’t get sent straight into the stands.
So, will the rims stay at 10 feet? Probably. Will Shaq stop pitching this idea? Definitely not. But in the meantime, the WNBA will continue to rise—without bending the rules or the rims.
