When Shaquille O’Neal gets an idea, you can usually count on two things: it’s going to be big… and it’s going to get people talking.
His latest basketball brainstorm is no exception. He’s talked about this idea before, and this week, he’s pushing it again.
The Big Diesel has been watching what many fans consider the most exciting WNBA season in league history, and like millions of basketball lovers, he’s been impressed by the incredible talent on display. But in classic Shaq fashion, he couldn’t resist wondering how the league might become even more entertaining.
His answer?
Lower the rims.
That’s right. Shaq believes bringing the baskets down a bit could lead to one thing basketball fans absolutely love—more dunks.
Now before anyone starts clutching their basketballs in disbelief, it’s worth pointing out that Shaq isn’t criticizing the WNBA. Quite the opposite.
He’s been vocal about how much he enjoys watching the league’s growth and the incredible level of play. Between Caitlin Clark dazzling crowds with her playmaking, A’ja Wilson continuing to dominate on both ends of the floor, and exciting young stars like Olivia Miles bringing fresh energy to the game, there’s no shortage of must-see moments.
Throw in the headlines surrounding players like Sophie Cunningham and the WNBA has become one of the hottest stories in sports.
Still, Shaq believes one spectacular element is missing from the nightly highlight reels.
“We need dunks.”
It’s hard to argue that fans don’t love seeing someone throw down a thunderous slam. After all, dunking has long been one of basketball’s signature crowd-pleasers. During this year’s WNBA All-Star festivities, Dominique Malonga thrilled fans by throwing down a dunk that instantly became one of the weekend’s most talked-about moments.
Shaq simply wonders what it would look like if those plays happened more often.
His proposal has sparked plenty of debate.
Some fans love the idea, arguing that more above-the-rim action could create additional excitement, attract new viewers, and generate even more viral highlights.
Others believe the standard 10-foot rim is part of basketball’s identity and should remain the same for every level of the game. They argue that the WNBA’s popularity is already soaring because of its elite skill, teamwork, and competitiveness—not because of dunking.
Both sides make compelling points.
What’s interesting is that Shaq’s suggestion seems to come from a genuine appreciation for the league rather than criticism. Throughout his career, he’s always celebrated basketball’s most entertaining moments, and he’s clearly enjoying the incredible momentum women’s basketball has built over the past few seasons.
If anything, lowering the rims is simply another one of Shaq’s “What if?” ideas—one designed to spark conversation as much as anything else.
And let’s be honest: basketball debates are almost as much fun as basketball itself.
Will the WNBA ever seriously consider changing rim height? Probably not anytime soon.
But that’s beside the point.
The real takeaway is that the WNBA has become such a major part of the sports conversation that legends like Shaquille O’Neal are constantly thinking about its future and offering ideas for where it could go next.
Whether you think lowering the rims is brilliant, bonkers, or somewhere in between, one thing is certain: when Shaq tosses out an idea, the basketball world is always ready to weigh in.
And that might be exactly what he was hoping for.