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Shaquille O’Neal has established himself as a very likable media personality ever since hanging up his boots. The Diesel has had numerous memorable moments on TV talking about games and players. However, the former Los Angeles Lakers big man makes sure people know when he doesn’t appreciate something.

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One of his most infamous beef has been with All-Star center Rudy Gobert. The Utah Jazz recently traded the French international to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2020, Gobert signed a contract extension with the Utah Jazz worth $205 million over 5 years. It was the largest contract ever for a center.

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While speaking with Nischelle Turner and Anthony ‘Spice’ Adams on his podcast ‘The Big Podcast‘, Shaq demanded an apology from his fellow hosts. He explained his reason, “I talk all that stuff about Rudy Gobert and you’re talking about how good he was. Why’d his a** get traded then?”

This left Turner and Adams perplexed, and she started arguing that the Utah Jazz received a great haul in return for the big man. Adams mentioned the fact that even O’Neal got traded multiple times in his career. Shaq fumed, “Not in my prime! Not when I was the highest-paid player on the team. No, the hell I did not!”

READ MORE: Long Before Calling Ja Morant a Young Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O?Neal Heaped the Same Praise on His Son Shareef O?Neal

O’Neal has never been a big fan of 3-time Defensive Player of the Year. He said he knew the reason why the Jazz traded Gobert. “We’re paying this man all this money and he ain’t doing s**t, we gotta get him off the books. Cut it out!”, said O’Neal.

Shaquille O’Neal got annoyed with Nischelle Turner

Shaq told Turner and Adams that he had a chat with Rudy Gobert on Instagram once. He told Gobert, “Just play mean. You’re too nice”. O’Neal went on to explain that he does that on purpose. “I know how to motivate people to get to the highest level,”?Shaq said.

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He gave an example of JaVale McGee and how his fortunes turned around after beefing with O’Neal. As the argument got more heated, Shaq made sure to tell them, “It’s never personal with me. If it ever gets personal with me, you’re gonna know about it.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Looking back at Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Rodman’s most heated face-off’s

O’Neal won’t let anyone forget about his views on Gobert. Meanwhile, the 3-time All-Star will be looking forward to training with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

What do you think about O’Neal’s comments on Gobert? Let us know in the comments.

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Pragya Vashisth

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Pragya Vashisth is the Lead Editor of She Got Game, EssentiallySports’ dedicated WNBA newsletter. With a Master’s degree in Sports Management and experience as a divisional basketball player, he brings both technical expertise and long-standing knowledge of the game to his editorial work. Since joining EssentiallySports in 2022, Pragya has worked across multiple roles, from writer to editor, before taking charge of She Got Game. In this role, he curates coverage of women’s basketball, spotlighting WNBA icons, rising stars, and the defining shifts shaping the league today. Earlier in his career at ES, Pragya was at the center of major coverage for the NBA Legends desk, from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies to analysis of icons like Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, helping establish the division’s identity and depth. His wider sports management background, which includes event operations, accreditation, and spectator engagement, gives him an insider’s view of how professional sports function off the court. With over 15 years of closely following the NBA, Pragya connects basketball’s culture and history with the human stories behind the game, ensuring She Got Game delivers coverage that is fresh, reliable, and meaningful for fans.

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Arunaditya Aima

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