Tag: Candace Parker

Candace Parker shut down Shaq’s suggestion of lowering the WNBA rims for dunks

“My next child will be drop-step dunking.”

Chicago Sky star Candace Parker has become accustomed to schooling Shaquille O’Neal during TNT’s NBA Postgame Show, and Tuesday was no different.

Like the NBA — and all competitive basketball beyond junior high school — the WNBA plays on a regulation, 10-foot basket. Yet, Shaq zeroed in on the rim height during Tuesday night’s broadcast and proposed a not-so-original idea of lowering WNBA rims so the players could dunk more and throw down two-handers.

Shaq proposed the idea as a way to “make it equal,” and Parker, who had probably heard that suggestion several times before, waited little time to shut it down.

Parker said:

“No … Lailaa, she’s into dance, but my next child will be drop-step dunking. I promise you.”

Though Shaq went into the suggestion like it was something that hadn’t been tossed around already, Elena Delle Donne actually faced backlash from the WNBA community when she spoke favorably of the idea in 2016.

But really, Shaq doesn’t need to look for ways to change or cheapen the WNBA. Supporting the game as it is would go a long way.

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Watch Candace Parker absolutely schooled Shaq on ‘Inside the NBA’

This isn’t good.

Shaq has not had the greatest run on Inside the NBA so far this season. It’s been pretty tumultuous, to say the least.

He’s started beef with Donovan Mitchell, got called out as a “casual” by Christian Wood, didn’t know Pascal Siakam’s first name and couldn’t name legitimate NBA players as part of one of the show’s games.

Now, he’s being schooled on defensive coverages by his co-host Candace Parker.

Parker brought up a point about how defenses around the NBA are switching more than ever and how the Nuggets take advantage of that. And Shaq asked “why” the defenses were switching so much.

Parker explains “because everybody can shoot 3’s.” And then Shaq asks “what happened to everybody man up?” referring to the way defense used to be played in the NBA.

From there, it sort of just devolved into Parker explaining the modern game to Shaq and him giving his “back in my day” takes in response.

She had to break down the math to reason with him about why “pre-rotating” the defense just doesn’t work as well anymore.

You can see just how frustrated Parker was getting as explaining this. Her faces say it all.

This was rough to watch. But it’s not surprising at all. This has been a trend all season long. Shaq just doesn’t seem very interested in the modern NBA and delivers his analysis accordingly.

Stuff like this does a disservice to the NBA’s fans and the players in today’s game. Shaq needs to be better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P96ldawYr5s

Candace Parker appears at DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation charity event

Former Lady Vols’ basketball star Candace Parker appears at a charity event for DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Former University of Tennessee women’s basketball star Candace Parker assisted the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.

The foundation provides female athletes from the ABC Pilsen basketball association. She assisted the sporting goods store at an event on Dec. 7.

The organization serves inner-city athletes from Parker’s hometown of Chicago with equipment.

Jan 2, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; University of Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart (left) and Lady Vol former player Candace Parker (left center) and daughter Lailaa Williams (bottom) and head coach emeritus Pat Summitt (right center) and head coach Holly Warlick (right) during the retirement ceremony of Parker’s jersey before the game against the LSU Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Parker, a former star for the Lady Vols and current WNBA player and studio analyst for TNT, appeared at the event virtually as the youth players received gifts from the Sports Matter Giving Truck.

The event was made possible by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Parker was pleased to assist with the event.

“I love what DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is doing,” Parker said. “It means so much to be able to connect with kids that are excited about getting out and continuing to play sports.

“It’s been tough in 2020, but the holidays are about spreading cheer and giving.”

Parker plays for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Photo provided by The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.

Dwyane Wade gives Candace Parker the appreciation she deserves for being the best at her jobs

Candace Parker is incredible.

Candace Parker has been absolutely spectacular in her role on TNT’s Tuesday NBA broadcasts.

Her analysis is always spot on and right on time. It’s very clear that she’s put in hard work and practice to get that good at it.

She’s also still one of the best basketball players in the world. And when the WNBA started back up at IMG Academy in Florida, it was easy to assume that we’d miss her analysis because, of course, she’d be playing actual basketball games.

Nope. Instead, she’s Superwoman.

Parker has been playing in meaningful WNBA games by day and then video calling in to the NBA on TNT set by night to break down games on postgame broadcasts. Oh, and by the way, her daughter is with her in the Wubble. So she’s also on mom duty, too.

She deserves all of our praise. On Tuesday night, Dwyane Wade offered some up live on the broadcast.

“They talk about it on social. She do have a lot of jobs, but every job she has it seems like A1 in each job. And being a mother is probably most important of that. But we’re thankful that she’s our teammate and we get an opportunity to be in her presence. We’re just thankful for her. Candace, you are incredible.” 

Incredibly well said.

NBA and WNBA stars participate in ‘world’s best career day’

Talk about a cool career day.

Career day. Ah, yes, career day. That takes you back.

You know, to those days in high school where you’d sit and your classmate’s dad would come through from whatever job he worked. He’d share a few cool stories with the class and pass around some item that you’d never touched before. Easy money. Easy day at school. Now you can go home and chill.

But could you imagine a career day where James Harden showed up? Or Candace Parker? I don’t know about you, but my classroom would go nuts.

That’s happening for some kids in Chicago this weekend ahead of the All-Star game. Except for instead of a classmate’s dad, they’re kicking it with legends from the NBA and WNBA.

Adidas is hosting what they’re calling “the world’s best career day” with 240 student athletes from eight high schools in Chicago.

They’re getting tips and advice from professionals across different industries — including the NBA and WNBA — about what they did to make it in their profession. Adidas is bringing their athletes and professionals to help these kids shape their futures.

Among those professionals is Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker. The future Hall of Famer said the weekend is an opportunity for her to help someone else build their legacy the way she’s built hers.

“I’ve had countless role models and idols in my life both on and off the court that have played a huge part in who I am, so I’ve always strived to pass it on to the future generations,” Los Angeles Sparks All-Star Candace Parker told For The Win.

Other athletes participating include Derrick Rose, Zach LaVine, James Harden and Chiney Ogwumike among others. Some entertainers under the Adidas umbrella will also participate.

The program is part of Adidas basketball’s “Legacy” program that they say was created to empower youth in underserved communities across the country. The program started in 2017 and is currently in Los Angeles and New York. Chicago’s launch is coinciding with All-Star weekend.

The goal of the program is to “change lives through the power of sport,” Brandon Walker, Adidas Basketball’s program manager, told For The Win. Part of that is getting them in front of professionals who have already done the things they’re trying to do.

And it’s not just basketball they’re focused on. The company is also bringing in business professionals, artists, photographers, fashion designers and professionals from other industries to showcase their skills and drive interest.

“In LA, we were having a session and one of the young lady’s from our program spoke to one of our sneaker designers and she asked ‘You helped design James Harden’s shoe?’,” Walker said.  “And just to see the look on her face to see that she could impact sport without actually needing to play the game was super powerful. And that’s what we try to hammer home.”

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