One of my earliest Shaq memories was this highlight of him taking down the entire basket apparatus in what was then the very new America West Arena.
So it's little surprise that after Shaquille's first practice with the Phoenix Suns that his new teammates are asking that their arena make sure the hoops are 'Shaq-Proof.'
“Basically, they’ve said they don’t have the confidence to be under those baskets right now,” one Suns official said. “And I can’t say I blame them.”Apparently these requests were heard.
And there were workers "Shaq-ifying" the US Airways Center practice-court baskets after his basket-jarring dunks made players and owners uneasy. They reinforced the welds on the hanging hoops and replaced the 13-foot stanchions that retract the backboards to the ceiling with a bar.I wonder if the next move is to add padding to the backboard and rim after the Suns see Shaq shoot free throws?
Suns must Shaq-proof baskets on practice court [East Valley Tribune]
Shaq's impact already being felt [AZ Central]
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