Shaq offers viral Pacers fan couple engagement ring during ‘Inside the NBA’ segment

“Inside the NBA” ended its final regular-season broadcast with an interview of the Indiana Pacers’ fan couple that went viral last week.

In case you missed it — and how could you have at this point — the Pacers’ TV crew caught a woman named Grace mouthing a “What the f— are you talking about” at the end of a conversation with her boyfriend, Michael. The conversation turned out to be them bickering about the value of a liberal arts education in today’s job market. Seriously.

They’ve made the media rounds since the clip surfaced, but nothing compares to going on TV with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.

To wit: upon hearing that Michael and Grace are not yet, in fact, married, Shaq insisted that he would pay for the engagement ring if Michael proposed on the spot. Pretty enticing, to be honest! But Michael tried to pivot and say he’d do it if the TNT crew committed to attending the wedding, which they wouldn’t do.

The interview ended with Michael, while complimenting Grace, attempting a joke about San Antonio women in front of Barkley. That went right over Grace’s head.

Anyway, it was a fitting way to end Inside’s first regular season on ESPN’s platforms.

‘Inside the NBA’ had the viral Pacers couple join the show tonight.

Shaq was particularly honest and also offered to buy them an engagement ring. 🏀📺🤣 #NBA https://t.co/Yoa4FeRhxD pic.twitter.com/KQoYba26hm

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 13, 2026