Source: Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers / Getty
Two of the NBA‘s most dominant big men are at odds yet again.
Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard both started with the Orlando Magic and eventually won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the commonalities end there.
The latest chapter of their ongoing beef began last week when Howard appeared on Ray Daniels’ The GAUDs show to speak on his tension with Shaq.
“The thing I hated the most is the fact that he always thought I was trying to be him or be like him,” Howard said. “But again, if I wanted to be you or be like him, shouldn’t you take that as a compliment and show how great you are as a player and a person?”
Howard says he never wanted to emulate Shaq’s on-court play but admits to taking bits and parts of his game to better his own, similar to how he studied the moves and attitudes of other greats like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James.
Howard admits that he tried to reconcile with Shaq when he found out he was working with someone close to him while on Dancing With The Stars but was unsuccessful.
“Every time I hear or see something about you it’s about disrespecting me on some type of level. And at this point, I’m like, do we need to throw hands?” Howard said, despite Shaq turning down a proposed boxing match last year.
Shaq heard about the invitation to fight and took to X to downplay the beef and promised never to mention him again.
“The fact u think I care about u is funny, but I won’t ever bring your name up again, sensitive big man, a jokester that can’t take a joke. Won’t ever say your name again ever again,” Shaq retorted. “Have a great day and now u have been deleted. Have a great day. #inevercared #trustme #dontneedvalidationyoudo #stayoffpodcasts #thefactyouthinkicareisfunny #yougottashowrespecttogetrespect #nowyouredeadtome.”
Howard hopped into the replies, calling Shaq envious and wondering why he’s still acting like insecure despite being in his 50s. He even references an old private message he sent him downplaying his athletic abilities.
“I know you care. Cuz yo insecure ass been hating and talking sh-t for 20 years. You to big to be this insecure. I hope you don’t bring my name up again. 52 years old tweeting me. And still hating. Now all this time you was joking. You always been jealous. Jealous of Kobe, penny, dwayde. You jealous of Charles too,” Howard wrote. “Go move around big lazy insecure ass. I still have that long 5 Paragraph direct message you sent me a couple years ago telling me that I’m not that great to hate. And you still doing it. It’s 2025 grow the hell up. and move on.”
See how social media is reacting to beef’s reigniting below.
