NBA legend Shaq shocks viral Pacers couple with wedding proposition

The Indiana Pacers fan couple that shocked the internet recently received an intriguing offer from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal on Sunday evening.

The 2025-26 season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Pacers. However, the last few days of the regular season delivered significant viral content for the NBA franchise after a boyfriend and girlfriend’s conversation appeared on the team’s local TV broadcast.

MORE: Pacers fan becomes viral meme after girlfriend’s hilarious NBA reaction

“Inside the NBA” and Shaq found the viral fan couple, Michael and Grace, as the regular season closes out. Meanwhile, the four-time NBA champion certainly gave them something to think about with a unique proposal.

"If you ask her to marry you right now, I'll buy the engagement ring." 😂

Shaq put the viral Pacers couple on the spot 😭 pic.twitter.com/ycn4jVQllf

— ESPN (@espn) April 13, 2026

The Pacers’ April 10 game against the Brooklyn Nets saw the now-famous boyfriend speaking at length to his girlfriend during a break in the action. However, his girlfriend’s priceleUltimatelyss reaction was met with “what the f**k are you even talking about?”

NBA legend Shaq plays matchmaker with Pacers fan couple

Nevertheless, NBA legend Shaq is ready to play matchmaker at the highest level after offering to purchase an engagement ring for the Indiana couple.

“If you ask her to marry you right now, I’ll buy the engagement ring,” Shaq said during “Inside the NBA.”

Unfortunately for ESPN and the show’s audience, the Pacers fans don’t seem prepared to make the jump into marriage just yet. However, the sequence certainly expanded the virality after a busy few days of memes and clips surfaced online.

Michael did make a counterproposal after asking the ESPN crew to attend a potential wedding in the future.

MORE: ESPN reveals final day for 36-year NBA, WNBA broadcast legend

Ernie Johnson did ask the hard-hitting question that America wants to know about Michael’s conversation with Grace, though. Michael even revealed what they were discussing before Grace’s viral moment.

“It was as boring as can be,” Michael told “Inside the NBA.” “We were talking about sort of the rigors of a liberal arts education and how I thought it needed to be updated for essentially how the job market looks.”

Ultimately, Shaq doesn’t believe Michael’s excuse and pressed him on it more. Charles Barkley and the rest of the crew followed up his response with another hilarious “what the h*ll are you talking about?”