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Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal’s notorious beef has come to life as soon as once more to grab the basketball world’s consideration. Though each NBA legends are now not within the league, they’ve continued to take petty jabs and photographs at one another over time.
Their rivalry probably stems from their comparable profession paths. Each started with the Orlando Magic earlier than successful championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Howard adopted the “Superman” moniker, one which O’Neil additionally donned. And whereas O’Neal is extensively considered the extra dominant participant, Howard has an simple legacy.
The most recent spherical of drama kicked off when Howard’s identify got here up throughout a section on “Contained in the NBA.” O’Neal’s response sparked one other social media battle, conserving followers entertained — at the same time as some develop uninterested in the endless forwards and backwards.
Shaquille O’Neal in Denial About His Emotions Towards Dwight Howard
Years in the past, O’Neal claimed he wouldn’t interact within the feud anymore. However when Charles Barkley stirred the pot — calling Howard the second-best heart in Magic historical past — O’Neal couldn’t resist.
O’Neal couldn’t include himself and identified that he had extra championships than Barkley and Howard mixed. Nonetheless, he did his very best to keep away from mentioning Howard’s identify in any means.
“However I obtained extra rings than you and him mixed. The final identify you simply stated … I obtained extra rings than all y’all.”
Charles Barkley calls Shaq the third greatest Lakers heart and second greatest Magic heart
Shaq: “I’ve obtained extra rings than you and [Dwight Howard] mixed. And Wilt. I obtained extra rings than all of y’all.”
(by way of @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/KVLu7SYubd
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 14, 2025
That led to a battle on X between the 2 of them. Howard initiated the trade by sarcastically praising O’Neal for sticking to his promise.
Glad you saved your promise
https://t.co/vDvoVIUTWj
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) March 15, 2025
O’Neal responded with a prolonged rant. O’Neal dismissed Howard as “only a podcaster” whereas boasting about his enterprise empire.
@DwightHoward the actual fact u suppose I care about u is humorous, however I received’t ever deliver your identify up once more delicate large man, a jokester that may’t take a joke. Received’t ever say your identify once more ever once more. Have an important day and now u have been deleted. Have an important day. #inevercared #trustme…
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 7, 2025
Followers watching the trade couldn’t assist however discover the irony, concluding that O’Neal was bothered and mendacity to himself by claiming that he didn’t care.
“Delicate large man” pic.twitter.com/CYBJ9T8DKX
—
(@aykeepitabuck) January 7, 2025
Ultimately, each males accused the opposite of stirring up drama for consideration, and O’Neal has extra to lose on this feud. As the larger identify and extra adorned participant, persevering with to have interaction with Howard solely fuels the talk over whether or not this rivalry continues to be price his time.
Historical past Behind O’Neal-Howard’s Ongoing Beef
Whereas most athlete rivalries construct on the courtroom, Howard and O’Neal performed towards one another simply 12 instances as their careers overlapped from 2004 to 2011. Statistically, Howard (16.5 factors, 10.9 rebounds per sport) had the sting over a late-career O’Neal (15.7 factors, 6.4 rebounds), however each are thought-about among the many greatest large males of their eras. Nonetheless, Howard was controversially left off the NBA seventy fifth Anniversary Crew.
Their feud appeared to start out in 2008 when O’Neal was nonetheless energetic, however it was not for something that occurred throughout a sport — fairly, it was at an All-Star Recreation occasion: the Slam Drunk Contest. Howard donned a Superman cape in his efficiency, and O’Neal, by no means one to shy from a nickname, took offense to what he thought was a slight.
So u put on a cape and win a dunk contest they usually name u superman
So— SHAQ (@SHAQ) November 19, 2008
From there, the back-and-forth jabs solely started, with O’Neal changing into an analyst and seemingly utilizing his platform to take subtle (and a few not-so-subtle) digs at Howard when he had the prospect.
Regardless, each have been considered legends of the sport and legends of the identical crew, with Howard not too long ago being inducted into the Magic’s Hall of Fame. At any time when it looks like the 2 have put their variations apart, extra hassle stirs, however possibly sometime the 2 can reconnect and put the petty previous behind them.
