Shaq offers viral Pacers couple engagement ring during bizarre Inside the NBA segment

Apr 13, 2026 - 13:15

Shaquille O’Neal made things very awkward for the couple who have gone viral over the weekend.

Grace and Michael attended the Indiana Pacers’ matchup against the Brooklyn Nets last Thursday.

Tyson Etienne #10 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jalen Slawson #18 of the Indiana Pacers battle for possession during the second half at Barclays Center on April 09, 2026 in New York City. — The Pacers defeated the Nets on Thursday night, but that wasn’t the main story of the day

It was very much a nothing game as both teams were out of playoff contention. The Pacers routed the Nets 123-94, but that wasn’t the main story of the night.

Veteran play-by-play announcer Chris Denari was praising Indiana fans for making the trek to Brooklyn.

The camera panned to the now-viral Grace and Michael, who were engulfed in a heated discussion.

Michael’s emphatic rant was shut down by Grace in one simple, yet effective sentence. “What the f*** are you talking about?”

The clip instantaneously did the rounds on social media, and Grace took to X and said: “Im “IM CRYINGGGGGGGG I LOVE MY BOYFRIEND THIS IS JUST HOW WE TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The couple spent the weekend on a ‘media-tour’ of sorts, explaining the viral moment and what caused the savage shutdown of Michael’s rant.

They found themselves on ESPN’s Inside the NBA on Sunday, where Shaquille O’Neal made things very awkward.

Michael told the panel that they were discussing “the rigors of a liberal arts education” and the future job market.

The crew immediately rejected it as a “corporate” cover-up, with Shaq immediately calling cap.

“Michael, I love you and I love your lovely wife, but I don’t believe that story,” Shaq said.

Indiana Pacers couple Michael and Grace were captured in the midst of a heated discussion — Michael and Grace were captured in the middle of a heated discussing, before the latter shut it down in an iconic way

The Indiana Pacers couple appeared on Inside The NBA — Shaq mistakenly thought the pair were married, only to be quickly corrected

Grace was quick to clarify to the NBA legend that Michael was her boyfriend, they were not married. It was at this point, Shaq made things awkward.

“I’ll tell you what. If you ask her to marry you right now, I’ll buy the engagement ring.

“Do it right now. Get on your knee right now. I’ll buy the ring.”

Michael attempted to negotiate, saying he would do it if the entire crew agreed to come to the wedding, but this fell on deaf ears as the crew relentlessly pressured him.

Grace played along with the idea of a Shaq-sponsored ring, but then claimed she didn’t want to have her engagement broadcast on national television.

Charles Barkley chimed in, with arguably the best quote of the bizarre ordeal.

Former basketball player Shaquille O'Neal on air before the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Michigan Wolverines and the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. — Shaq offered to pay for the couple’s engagement ring, pressuring Michael to propose on TV

“You’ve already cursed him out on national television. If you turn him down on national television, he better abort! Abort! Abort!,” Barkley said.

The couple remained committed to getting engaged on their own terms, and one of the more bizarre segments in the history of Inside The NBA ended soon after.

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