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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 16: Shaquille O’Neal is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on July 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
via Imago
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 16: Shaquille O’Neal is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on July 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has a habit of giving blunt reviews of modern players. He doesn’t mince his words, which can often lead to the four-time champion getting caught in controversy. There are a few players who have been at the receiving end of O’Neal’s criticism for a long time now, including eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard.
Howard and Shaq have rarely seen eye to eye and have had a very rocky relationship for more than a decade. However, O’Neal finally praised Howard, which caught fans off-guard. Howard, who last played for the Lakers in 2021-22, is still without a team as the new season approaches.
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Recently, Shaquille O’Neal gave an interview due to his involvement in the newly released NBA 2k23. He was asked whether anyone could dunk like him in the modern NBA. The 15-time NBA All-Star revealed that there was only one who could do that.
O’Neal surprisingly disclosed, “Probably only one: Dwight Howard. He was a monster when he was younger“. While it is surprising to see O’Neal praise Howard by calling him a monster, his assessment is not off the mark. Howard was a beast in his prime and dominated the paint.
Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard’s history
While O’Neal’s latest admission surprised everyone, he has always given scathing remarks against Howard. The Los Angeles Lakers legend took exception to Howard wearing a Superman cape for one of his dunks during the Slam Dunk Contest. Ever since then, the two have been at odds with each other.
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O’Neal refused to acknowledge Howard as the best center in the league back in 2012. Instead, he named Andrew Bynum and Brook Lopez over the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. O’Neal even criticized Howard for crying after he won his first NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.
WATCH THIS STORY: NBA stars that Shaquille O’Neal has taken jabs at: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and others
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Howard imitated O’Neal’s voice after signing with the Lakers last year. Shaq responded on Instagram, “Not bad @dwighthoward reminds me of your game SO SO.”
Maybe O’Neal’s latest comments are a sign of things to come, as Howard is finding it hard to find a team. Retirement allows everyone to focus on the complete legacy of a person rather than just their past few years. Only time will tell what kind of a relationship the two legends have going forward.
