“Probably not [on getting married]. I’m going to end up alone, I already know.”  That was Shaquille O’Neal’s blunt take when asked about the possibility of marriage last year. But funny how life works—because not long after that, he went ahead and popped the question… well, sort of.

During the All-Star event earlier this year, the Los Angeles Lakers icon surprised fans and a certain sports content creator by turning a signed basketball into a cheeky proposal. The ball found its way to Jenna Bandy, a former college basketball star and now a digital sensation, and it came with a message that made everyone smile: “Will you marry me?” Now, if you assumed that was a one-off joke, you might want to think again. Bandy isn’t just a social media personality; she honed her skills on the basketball court at Cal State Monterey Bay, showcasing her own competitive drive and athletic ability. Further cementing her athletic prowess, she holds a Guinness World Record for an impressive 90-foot football throw into a target.

Shaquille O’Neal recently reunited with who should technically be his fiancée, and the energy between them picked up right where it left off—this time with a dose of competition. O’Neal, never one to shy away from a challenge, looked at Bandy and asked with that familiar spark, “You ready to lose?”  This wasn’t a serious challenge as much as it was classic Shaq – a playful jab delivered with a knowing grin, setting the stage for some lighthearted athletic rivalry.

Clearly, Jenna wasn’t backing down. With over a million YouTube subscribers and years of athletic experience under her belt, she fired right back: “You think you could play football… Can you run?” That prompted a classic Shaq response: “I can play football… I can’t run. Anything else. I challenge you in anything.”

Even golf got thrown into the mix, and Shaquille O’Neal didn’t mind the idea at all. But Bandy? She was already sizing up her victory, confident that she had him beat on the green. And just when you thought the friendly teasing might stop there, Shaq dropped a playful comment on her post, saying, “In coming for u three pointers truck shots whatever u like prepare to go down Jennifer Janine janiece jenna all of y’all go in down.” 

Still wondering if Bandy can hold her own? Then you might’ve missed the part where she played college hoops at Cal State Monterey Bay. And if that’s not enough, she’s also the proud holder of a Guinness World Record for the longest football throw into a target by a female—an insane 90 feet!

Now, this dynamic between Shaq and Bandy might just be one of the most entertaining matchups in sports and content creation. As for the wedding plan, Big Diesel has already revealed why he no longer entertains the idea.

The reason behind Shaquille O’Neal’s dead desire for marriage

Big Diesel has never been one to dodge tough questions, but even the 4x NBA champ had a moment of vulnerability on Angel Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast last year. Around the 40-minute mark, Reese cut straight to the chase—does Shaq still believe in marriage? And just like that, the Hall of Famer gave a candid response that caught many off guard.

Shaq admitted that he’s stopped trying to find the one. In fact, he sounded certain about where he’s headed on the love front. “Probably not [on getting married]. I’m going to end up alone, I already know,” he told Reese. And let’s be honest, hearing that from someone who’s not only a global icon but also worth over $500 million? That’s bound to make anyone pause.

But there’s more to it than meets the eye. Shaq spoke about how disillusioned he’s become with dating in today’s world. “Y’all be making rules up as you go on,” he said. “There is no handbook on how to be a perfect man or a perfect husband… If I’m not physically seeing somebody and I’m with you every day and you know my schedule, shouldn’t matter what I’m doing with my phone, it’s not cheating.”

That statement says a lot. What really seems to be bothering him is the feeling of being boxed in. It seems, however, Jenna Brandy has been successful in making Shaquille O’Neal re-consider the institution of marriage. Even if it was all in good humor.