After Shaquille O’Neal’s Insistence on ‘Lowering Rim’, Adam Silver Issues Update on NBA Rule Change

Let me ask you this, have you ever wondered how the rules in the NBA have evolved over time? Maybe you haven’t, but the ‘Big Aristotle,’ Shaquille O’Neal, sure has. Shaq shared his thoughts on how the NBA or even the WNBA could shake things up. He’s all about introducing changes that could take the game to a whole new level. Remember the whole ‘lowering the rim’ comment he made about the WNBA? Yeah, that one definitely stirred the pot.

So, who’s really calling the shots behind the curtain? The NBA Commissioner? A secret committee? Or is there someone else pulling the strings? Sounds like a mystery, right? Well, who better to clear it up than the head honcho of the NBA himself?

That’s right. In the latest episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, O’Neal brought Adam Silver on board. Shaq didn’t hold back, asking the hard questions. Also, Adam didn’t disappoint. He laid it all out, clearing up the confusion once and for all.

“You mentioned early rules changes, and I always wanted to ask you personally, how does that process work?” Shaq asked Silver during the show. He didn’t stop there. “Do you say I want this done, or do people come to you, they complain, you have to go through a process, does it take months, does it take days, or does it all come and stand with you?” Shaq fired off all these questions in one breath, coming at Adam in full force.

But the NBA Commissioner didn’t even flinch. He came prepared and had no trouble tackling Shaq’s blustery interrogation.

In response to Shaq’s fiery questions, Adam explained, “Well, ultimately, rule changes require a vote of the Board of Governors—the people who own the teams.” But that’s not the whole story. There’s an entire process through the league’s “competition committee” that drives how new rules are introduced or existing ones are changed in the NBA. And who exactly is part of this committee?

“[It] includes owners, league officials, I’m on it. Players, union representatives, referee. So it’s a big group that all comes together, you know, with players to discuss these issues,” Silver further elaborated. After the answer, a lot of things are clearer now. Just like Shaq, we finally have a better idea of how NBA rules actually change.

Speaking of bold ideas, remember the time Shaq stirred the pot with his WNBA rim comment?

Shaq’s bold comment sparks controversy

The ‘Big Diesel’ has never backed off from saying what he felt was right—just as he did on Angel Reese’s podcast, where he was asked for a solution to make more people watch the WNBA. Before even starting his answer, the big guy knew that his answer was not gonna be very agreeable as he said, “I have a solution for that but nobody’s gonna like that.”

He believes that fans are drawn to high-energy plays, especially dunks, and increasing dunking in the WNBA could capture more of that excitement. Shaq tossed out the idea of lowering the rim a bit, thinking it could make it easier for women players to throw down some dunks. He said, “I’m not saying to lower it to 9’5, but just a little bit, like 9’9.”

Now, sure, this might sound a little out there, but you get where he’s coming from. It’s a sport, but also entertainment, right? 

At the end of the day, it’s the fans in the stands who call the shots. Shaq’s probably thinking that dunks are one of those crowd-pleasing moves that everyone wants to see more of. And considering there have only been 37 dunks in WNBA history, maybe dropping the rim a little could give the league an extra spark.

But not so fast. “I hate when men say that,” Angel Reese quickly shut down Shaquille O’Neal’s suggestion about changing the rule for the WNBA just because women are playing in the league. And the debate didn’t stop there, plenty of WNBA players weren’t having it and opposed the idea altogether.

Whatever the case, one thing is for sure. The 4x NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal never fails to shock his fans with his raw talk and bold moves.