VH1 Gets into the Game with Basketball Wives

VH1 is putting together its own version of the Real Housewives. The cable channel has ordered a new reality series, titled Basketball Wives.

Basketball Wives will document the lives of girlfriends, wives and ex-wives of such prominent NBA players as Shaquille O'Neal, Eric Williams, Antoine Walker, Jermaine O'Neal and Udonis Haslem.

See photos of Shaquille O'Neal

The eight-episode program will specifically focus on both the women's opulent lifestyles as well as their personal and emotional hardships. "The wives of star athletes form one of the most unique and exclusive groups of women in the world," said Jeff Olde, VH1's executive vice president of original programming and production. "You only have to look as far as the nearest headlines to see what sort of pressure they are up against to keep their relationships and their families together." 

One of the five women featured on the series, Shaquille O'Neal's wife Shaunie, will also executive-produce the latest addition to VH1's celebreality family of shows. "Having been around these remarkable women for several years, I have always recognized that behind every NBA star is a strong, exceptional woman, one who must deal with the unique challenges of being married to the game as well as the player," Shaunie O'Neal said.

Basketball Wives will premiere March 15, 2010.