Candace Parker means business! She is serious about the matchup and even more about her battle against Shaquille O’Neal. Just a few days till Parker’s “Rising Stars” face Shaquille O’Neal’s “OGs” in the second matchup. Plus, she uses every piece of information that she has. As the two hilariously challenged each other, Candace took out the only weapon that might be able to scare the Lakers legend.

Speaking of the Big Aristotle, he has dominated throughout his career in the NBA. And in all these years, if there’s something that he couldn’t do impressively, it’s free throw. The basketball legend isn’t very good at it. Taking a dig at O’Neal’s poor free throw attempts, Candace suggested her team would foul a lot.

As TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” Adam Lefkoe asked about their matchup, Parker suggested, “We fouling. We putting him into the free throw line. That’s what we going to do Shaq. We gonna foul the whole game. Hack-a-Shaq.” Hack-a-Shaq might be in full flow soon.

The Hack-a-Shaq was a clever basketball defensive strategy used by some coaches to stop Shaquille O’Neal. The legend averaged around 55-60% for free throw percentage in his career. Yes, those and ones didn’t get in. Just imagine the points he would have scored if he converted all those free throws.

Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson was one to do so against O’Neal. This strategy involves players who personally foul those players who struggle from the free-throw line.

The Lakers legend’s shooting efficiency was down to 50.4% on 10.7 attempts per game in the playoffs. O’Neal shot 5,935-for-11,252 from the free-throw line across all his games in the regular season, which made him lose 5,317 shots. These stats are certainly not the best or something to boast off. He often gets teased on Inside the NBA for the same.

Well, O’Neal’s OGs aren’t coming unprepared. And so, the 4 xNBA champ too didn’t step back. He took the challenge head-on and even placed bets.

Shaquille O’Neal and Candace Parker put up an interesting bet

“She’s (Parker) going down, you’re going down. Blowout,” O’Neal said. As Lefkoe asked O’Neal what he would do if he lost the matchup, the 4x Champ declared he would wear a men’s hairpiece. The one time O’Neal wore a wig was to hide an injury on his head. The Los Angeles Lakers legend had hit an exit sign and had put on band-aids. So, he had to wear a black and poofy wig on Inside the NBA.

This time, it would be if he were to lose. But he isn’t one to give up so easily. While he initially had no special challenges for Candace, he later decided on one. He asked the two-time WNBA MVP would have to wear an odd combination of lipstick for one segment if she lost. 

“If you lose, you gotta wear a red, white and green lipstick for one segment,” O’Neal said. So, the game is on. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game is set to take place at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 16. Before O’Neal’s and Parker’s teams compete, Kenny Smith’s team, Kenny’s Young Stars, will face Charles Barkley’s squad, Chuck’s Global Stars.