Imagine this: two NBA legends, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, sitting on opposite sides of a major debate. Shaq, known for his bold, no-holds-barred opinions, drops a controversial take on the WNBA, and it doesn’t sit well with everyone. Enter Dwyane Wade, who’s not holding back either, but this time, he’s calling out more than just his former teammate—he’s throwing the NBA under the bus.

Wade’s comments reveal a deeper tension, as he challenges Shaq’s perspective and the NBA’s stance on women’s basketball. We learned this through his YouTube podcast Level Up, where Wade opens up about everything. Wade sharply contrasts the NBA’s approach to togetherness with the WNBA’s sense of unity, emphasizing that the women’s league showcases something the men’s league lacks: “One thing we can’t get in our league is togetherness… What the WNBA is showing is togetherness in a time where it’s all about pulling them apart.”

This isn’t just a case of two friends disagreeing—Dwyane Wade is stepping up and throwing serious shade at the NBA, taking a stand against Shaquille’s controversial WNBA take.

Wade calls out the negative narratives that surround the WNBA, highlighting the impact of those comments on young girls who dream of playing in the league. He passionately says, “Quit all that tearing the WNBA down… You got nieces, you got daughters… They want to see people that look like them play this sport.”

Furthermore, Wade advocates for women’s basketball to have its moment, saying, “Let them get their shine. Let them get their time. The NBA, we’ve had ours. We’ve been around for 80-some years. They’ve been around for almost 30 years now.”   This highlights the WNBA’s chance to shine, pointing out the imbalance in the amount of time the NBA has had to grow versus the WNBA.

In contrast, the NBA’s treatment of the WNBA is much less supportive. Wade says, “I don’t like people tearing down the WNBA, man… because they’re not dunking like that.”

Wade’s comments don’t just defend the WNBA—they also take a jab at the NBA for not giving women’s sports the same level of promotion as it does for international players and men’s basketball. He points out how other leagues, like the NFL, manage to dominate with fewer games, yet still keep American sports fans locked in.

It’s a subtle critique of how the NBA hasn’t been as proactive in elevating the WNBA, especially considering the success other leagues have had with a more focused approach.

Wade vs. Shaq: A clash over the WNBA’s authenticity

Dwyane Wade’s recent comments have sparked a much-needed conversation about the NBA’s support for women’s sports, particularly the WNBA. In contrast, when Shaquille O’Neal’s suggestion to lower the rims in the WNBA to create more dunks had drawn significant criticism. Many felt that his idea undermined the skill and athleticism of female players, turning the sport into a spectacle rather than appreciating its depth.

While Shaq believed that a shorter rim would attract more fans by catering to the appeal of dunking, WNBA star A’ja Wilson pushed back, explaining that such a change could disrupt shooting mechanics and hurt the overall game. She argued that improving vertical leap should be the focus, not altering the structure of the sport.

This debate feeds into a broader issue of how the WNBA is viewed in comparison to the NBA. Dwyane Wade, in his own remarks, has been vocal about the lack of support for women’s basketball, especially when it comes to comparisons with the men’s game.

Wade’s view sharply contrasts with Shaq’s approach. Rather than pushing for physical gimmicks like adjusting the rim height, Wade advocates for appreciating the skill, strategy, and unique qualities that make the women’s game special. It’s about giving the WNBA the respect it deserves and acknowledging the incredible talent of its players.

Instead, Wade believes the focus should be on appreciating the skill, strategy, and depth of the women’s game, not on trying to mimic the physical feats that define the NBA. It’s about respecting the sport’s unique qualities and recognizing the incredible talent of the players.