Shaquille O’Neal believes he has found a simple way to make the WNBA even more exciting, with the NBA legend suggesting the league should slightly lower its rims.
O’Neal has been a vocal supporter of women’s basketball in recent years and has backed that up through his role as Reebok Basketball president. His early push to sign Angel Reese has since been credited with helping the brand establish itself in the women’s game.
Now, the four-time NBA champion has turned his attention towards what happens on the court, arguing that one major difference still separates the WNBA from the NBA.
Shaquille O’Neal wants WNBA to consider lowering the rim
O’Neal used beach volleyball as an example when explaining why he believes adjusting the rim height could work.
‘I have a solution for the WNBA,’ O’Neal said. ‘In men’s beach volleyball and women’s beach volleyball, the net is lowered just a little bit.’
For Shaq, the idea is not about completely changing the game. Instead, he wants to create more opportunities for WNBA players to dunk.
‘The only thing missing from the WNBA to the NBA game is the dunk,’ he continued. ‘I’m not saying lower it to 9 feet or 8 feet… so they can dunk.’
O’Neal believes the league already has everything else needed to entertain fans, pointing towards the skill and personality currently on display.
‘I think if they did that, it would make the game more exciting. They got the handles, they got the shooters, they got the showmanship, they just don’t have the dunk. Just imagine if you lower the rim just a little bit.’
His latest suggestion comes after O’Neal received praise for his impact away from the court.
Authentic Brands Group chairman Jamie Salter recently claimed Shaq ‘changed the WNBA’ after pushing Reebok towards women’s basketball and backing Reese before she had played a WNBA game.
Reese signed with Reebok in October 2023 before agreeing a multi-year extension a year later, becoming one of the active WNBA players with a signature shoe.
O’Neal clearly believes in the direction women’s basketball is heading. He just thinks adding more dunks could take the entertainment factor another step further.
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