Just when we thought A’ja Wilson and Shaquille O’Neal’s ongoing debate over whether the WNBA should lower its rims is about to get heated, and all the eyes were on Wilson’s response, seems like the W star is not entertaining this anymore. In fact, she is busy following in another NBA legend’s footsteps. 

Shaq’s idea—lower the rims so WNBA players can dunk more—has sparked countless discussions, and his latest Instagram post reignited the flames. He claims that adding more dunks could help stars like Wilson secure the massive paychecks they deserve, even tossing out a $300 million figure. 

His response came after the Las Vegas Aces star shut down his opinion with, “What is it going to do?” She argued that it would mess with players’ mechanics. Now, while fans have been split on the issue, it’s clear Wilson has moved on. She’d rather spend her offseason maxing out her vertical and working on her game. 

Instead of dwelling on the rim debate, A’ja recently posted on Instagram Threads, “Making it at 5 on the countdown for handles week 💅 finna be on my Jamal Crawford ish soon.” That means she’s drawing inspiration from Jamal Crawford, aka “J-Crossover,” widely regarded as one of the best ball handlers in NBA history.

Crawford’s moves aren’t about textbook drills or rigid techniques; they’re pure instinct and feel. At 6’6″, the legend’s herky-jerky movements and unpredictable rhythm left defenders scrambling for 19 years in the NBA. And do you know he never even practiced dribbling drills?

“I don’t do drills at all,” he once admitted, which is intriguing when you think about how many ankles he’s snatched over the years. So what does this mean for the 28-year-old baller? Well, she’s already an incredible scorer, a three-time MVP who dominates on both ends of the court. 

But her recent focus on ball handling shows she’s looking to add even more finesse to her game. Previously, she announced she was not going to participate in Unrivaled this year. Looks like she is dedicating her off-season to ball handling. But it isn’t just about perfecting her Crawford-inspired moves. 

A’ja Wilson’s off-season grind and a side of romance

A’ja Wilson has also been spending time with her rumored Miami Heat star boyfriend, Bam Adebayo. The two have been spotted together quite a bit lately, fueling speculation of dating rumors. Just a few days ago, the Aces Center attended a private dinner celebrating Bam’s latest business venture: a limited-edition bourbon bottle called Bam & Marilyn’s 1 of 1. 

Photos from the event show A’ja seated beside Bam, looking all smiles as he raised a toast. The two were also papped at Dwyane Wade’s statue unveiling and the Bam, Books, and Brotherhood Thanksgiving event. Now, fans on social media are convinced there’s something brewing between these two. 

While neither has confirmed the rumors, their chemistry is hard to ignore. Whether it’s business dinners or playful interactions at the Paris Olympics, A’ja and Bam seem to be spending a lot of quality time together.

However, while Wilson is focused on her game (and maybe her rumored beau), the rim debate isn’t going anywhere. Shaq has doubled down on his stance, and fans are still chiming in with their opinions. As for Shaq’s idea? Well, time will tell if the WNBA takes his advice. Until then, we’ll be watching to see who jumps into the debate next.