WNBA Legend Candace Parker Once Flew With Shaq, And It Sounds Like It Was Not For The Faint Of Heart

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In her esteemed career as one of the top WNBA players ever, Candace Parker has undeniably been part of many exhilarating moments. She’s often found herself making crucial plays on the basketball court, which earned her numerous honors. However, not even a seasoned player like Parker is immune to unexpected hiccups, and she experienced one when she traveled on Shaquille O’Neal’s private jet. Parker has recently shared an amusing account of this incident, and it seems straight out of a TV sitcom.

Shaq and Candace Parker have known each other for quite some time, having collaborated together extensively at TNT Sports, most notably on Inside the NBA. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (which can be viewed on YouTube), Parker spoke about her friendship with Shaq in a light-hearted manner. Eventually, guest host Anthony Anderson asked Parker to delve into the private plane story, which she recounted as starting when Shaq extended a generous gesture towards the LA Sparks legend: namely, offering her a ride on his private plane.

In a new role with the NBA on TNT team, we found ourselves in North Carolina for a shoot. He casually mentioned, “I’m heading to LA, just jump on my private jet.” Sounds better than waiting at Delta, right? So, I hopped on his PJ. The journey was eventful; he cranked up the music for a full 4 hours and 38 minutes, only to nod off for the last 35 minutes and snore louder than the music itself. That experience marked my one and only ride in Shaquille O’Neal’s private jet.

Unfamiliar folks might not know this, but Shaquille O’Neal is actually a disc jockey who has been spinning tunes for quite some time now. The idea of being on a flight with him, listening to music for hours non-stop, sounds draining, let alone having been in Candace Parker’s shoes. To make matters worse, as Anthony Anderson shared during the interview, O’Neal’s preferred genre is Electronic Dance Music (EDM), characterized by its intense and distinctive beats. Moreover, Parker disclosed that O’Neal often plays these tracks at work.

On Tuesdays, I collaborate with him, and as we attempt to catch the NBA matches, he’s usually found in the viewing area spinning tunes for us. He serves as our personal DJ, and there’s no denying his charm – the big guy is simply lovable.

More on Shaq

I discovered that Shaquille O’Neal was incredible when he appeared on Travis Kelce’s podcast, but I didn’t realize until later that he is also a Taylor Swift fan.

As a fellow movie buff, I can attest that next to my “Inside the NBA” co-host Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal might just be one of the most extraordinary personalities gracing sports media (and perhaps the whole realm of pop culture). He’s frequently spoken about his passion for being a DJ, a role he claims delivers him an exhilarating “adrenaline rush” akin to what a championship game offers. But that’s not the only musical avenue he treads – Shaquille is also a rapper, and he proudly proclaims himself as the Greatest of All Time among athletes who’ve ventured into the music scene.

Shaq is often associated with playing loud music and entertaining in unpredictable ways on air, but he’s also recognized for being lively and generous. As evidence of his generosity, the 15-time NBA All-Star recently left a $1,000 tip for a server at a Texas restaurant. He has also been seen performing other kind acts, such as paying for an entire restaurant or purchasing a child a new pair of shoes. So, there are many facets to this sociable former basketball player.

Candace Parker is no longer going to collaborate with Shaquille O’Neal in the future. Instead, she’ll take on roles as a game and studio analyst for Amazon Prime Video, starting this autumn. Despite this change, it’s clear that their strong friendship will continue. However, it’s unlikely that Parker will join O’Neal on his private jet trips anymore.

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2025-07-21 16:38