Shaquille O’Neal and Candace Parker shared a sweet moment after the WNBA star announced her retirement — and her new job.
During the May 8 episode Within the NBA, O’Neal, 52, and his TNT co-hosts congratulated Parker, 38, on her new role as president of Adidas’ women’s basketball division, and the touching interaction was a hit with basketball fans.
O’Neal said, “I don’t have a question. I just want to say you know how I feel about you. I love you. I’m so proud of you. Good luck in your new endeavor.”
The Los Angeles Lakers legend added, “I really appreciate our friendship and I’m very proud of you,” before telling Parker “I love you” one more time.
Parker returned the love, telling O’Neal, “I love you too” and “I appreciate you,” before saying he was a source of inspiration for her as she contemplated her retirement.
Parker explained that O’Neal’s decision to retire, which he did in 2011, helped her realize it was “time” to move on to a new chapter. “I recently saw your podcast where you talked about why you retired, because you felt like you weren’t ‘him’ anymore,” Parker said during the segment.
WNBA star Candace Parker announces retirement: ‘It’s time’
The three-time WNBA champion explained that O’Neal is her role model in sports and business.
“After a long time you realize you’ve dominated for a long time and now you can’t and it’s not as fun anymore, so I appreciate you being a role model, not only on the court because you know what you’re doing, but off the court,” Parker said.
She added: “I try to be a businesswoman like you, so thank you for raising the bar and continuing to be my great friend and partner.”
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Parker played 16 seasons in the WNBA before retiring. In 2010, she became the first woman with signature basketball shoes for Adidas.
In a statement to ESPN after she was named the brand’s new president of women’s basketball shoes, adidas global basketball GM Eric Wise said, “In her new role as president, Parker will work with the brand to create a powerful platform focused on influencing and elevating the future of women’s basketball. sport.”
Wise said in a statement that Parker “will use her deep understanding of the game and the needs of female athletes to define a clear and impactful direction, with a focus on access, increased representation and breaking down barriers globally” for the brand.
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When she announced her retirement on April 28, Parker penned a lengthy message to her fans, writing, “I fell in love with a little orange ball at 13 and she makes my world go round.”
“The highs are unparalleled, and the lows have taught me lessons. On and off the field, I’m proud that I’ve always been true to myself and stayed true to MYSELF, even when it wasn’t popular.” She shared some of her plans after retirement, including her big dreams for the business side of basketball. “I’m attacking business, private equity, ownership (will own both NBA and WNBA teams), broadcasting, production, boardrooms, beach volleyball, dominoes (sorry honey, it’s about to get real) with the same intensity and focus as I did basketball,” he wrote is Parker.
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Source: HIS Education