One of the greatest to ever grace the court, Candace Parker may have retired from playing, but she hasn’t slowed down one bit! Now working as an analyst for TNT, Parker has seamlessly transitioned into the world of basketball commentary, bringing her unapologetic style and unfiltered opinions to the forefront. While her bold and unfiltered takes often make her stand out in the studio, they’re also what gets Candace the most heat from fans!
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Her recent comments about OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander haven’t gone down well with the NBA community. “I am saying the face of the league is somebody that you want to model being a good human after, model their game after, model their aura after, model how they conduct themselves off the court and I think now the NBA is ready for SGA.” Candace said when asked about who she thought would become the next face of the league.
As expected, fans didn’t hold back, flooding social media with criticism and sharing their own takes on the matter! Let’s dive into some of the best reactions to Candace Parker’s bold take.
Fans fume after Candace makes her pick for the next face of the NBA
One fan couldn’t believe what they were hearing and felt like it was a PR move to influence the MVP race, they took to X to share their frustration by calling Candace “Corny” and saying, “Y’all so CORNY, Y’all preaching Free throw Merchant just to avoid a white big European to win another MVP, CORNY PARKER…”
While the fan calling Candace “corny” may be up for debate, one thing’s for sure: this MVP battle cannot be influenced by mere PR campaigns. Shai is having a phenomenal scoring season and OKC finds itself at the top of the Western Conference as well. But he’s up against a 3x MVP winner who arguably should’ve won three straight. This is a guy putting up 29.2 points per game (3rd in the league), 12.6 rebounds (3rd in the league), and 10.4 assists (2nd in the league), probably the most complete player the game has ever seen. If it were to be predicted who’s taking home the MVP this season, it’s clear who the frontrunner is.
The “aura” surrounding SGA has become a running joke, especially after Giannis famously asked for a handshake to soak in some of it during the All-Star game. But there’s truth behind it, SGA radiates a vibe that is impossible to ignore and you can see that during his interviews, how he and his teammates are always messing about during the interviews, and how is calm and composed energy contributes to those interviews being so enjoyable to watch!
Not everyone is sold on Shai being crowned the next face of the league. Some fans were quick to label him a “stat padder,” with one going as far as calling him a “free throw merchant.” Another fan jumped in, saying, “A foul-baiting Canadian ain’t it.”
Yes, it’s true that Shai draws a ton of fouls. He takes 8.9 free throws per game, second only to Giannis. But let’s get this straight. He’s putting up 32.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists while shooting a ridiculous 52.3% from the field. And you know who the last player to have a 30-point season while shooting 50% from the field was? None other than Michael Jordan.
Candace Parker’s comments on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the potential next face of the NBA sparked some intense reactions, but there’s merit to it. SGA’s impressive stats, calm demeanor, and unique style could genuinely make him a contender to become the face of the league. But that said, each one of us will have our own choice and this isn’t something anyone can impose on us, Candace has her pick, and we will have our own, that’s just the beauty of it!
