Why Did Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal Hate Each Other? The Full Beef History Explained

Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal stand among the most dominant centers in NBA history. Both were drafted No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic and enjoyed superstar tenures with the Los Angeles Lakers. Yet beyond trophies and shared teams, their careers were linked by a longstanding, often bitter rivalry. From subtle jabs to outright confrontations on social media and national TV, the tension between Howard and O’Neal was deeply personal, fiercely competitive, and seemingly unending.

Few expected reconciliation, especially after a flare-up in January 2025 reignited tensions. But in a surprising twist, Dwight Howard revealed he wanted Shaq to walk him out at his Basketball Hall of Fame induction—perhaps finally closing a chapter on their feud. To understand the significance, the story must be told from the beginning.

How did the Shaquille O’Neal vs Dwight Howard Beef Begin?

It all began in Orlando when Shaquille O’Neal was drafted by the Magic in 1992, leading them to an NBA Finals appearance in 1995 before eventually leaving for the Lakers a year later. Then, eight years after that, Dwight Howard got drafted in 2004, becoming the new cornerstone of the franchise. 

From the beginning, Shaq seemed to bristle at the comparisons. As Howard’s stardom rose, so did his similarities to O’Neal, athletic dominance, a playful personality, and, eventually, the “Superman” branding that Shaq had long considered his own. In Shaq’s eyes, it wasn’t homage. It was mimicry.

The Superman Nickname Controversy

The tipping point came in 2008 during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, when Dwight Howard stole the show at the NBA Slam Dunk Contest by donning a full Superman cape and logo before soaring through the air for a now-iconic dunk. The performance immediately drew praise, but it also drew the ire of one very specific NBA legend.

“The whole Superman thing doesn’t work for me,” Shaq wrote in his autobiography. He made his stance clear—there was only one Superman in basketball, and it wasn’t Dwight. At his retirement press conference in Orlando, O’Neal passed out shirts that read, “The Real Superman,” a clear jab at Howard. LeBron James, Shaq’s former teammate, once said, “That’s definitely his nickname, and the fact that everybody kind of gave Dwight his name kind of bothers him a little bit.”

Howard, on the other hand, never understood the outrage. “I didn’t know he made it up. I didn’t know Superman came from Shaquille O’Neal,” he said. “It’s just a name… It was nothing to do with Shaq. Nothing to be like him or anything like that.”

Shaquille O’Neal’s Criticism of Dwight Howard’s Game

Over the years, Shaq never held back when it came to critiquing Howard. From his analyst seat on TNT’s Inside the NBA, O’Neal regularly targeted Howard’s skillset, particularly his lack of refined post moves. “When you’re averaging 26 and you should be averaging 40, for us, they’re saying we’re not focused,” O’Neal said on his Big Podcast. “There’s certain people on this earth that can get one ring and be, ‘Oh my god, he’s this and he’s that.’ [Expletive] like me and you, we gotta get two, three or four (championships) to get our respect.”

Shaq also routinely downplayed Howard’s accomplishments, most notably after Howard won his only NBA title with the Lakers in 2020. Instead of celebrating, Shaq responded with a backhanded congratulation and highlighted Howard’s career shortcomings, saying things like, “Dwight still ain’t got no post moves.”

Dwight Howard’s Response to Shaquille O’Neal

Howard stayed relatively quiet in the early years of the feud, but eventually, he responded with fire. Appearing on the GAUDS Show, Howard finally aired out his frustrations. “I hated the most is the fact that he always thought I was trying to be him or be like him,” he said. “But again, if I wanted to be you or be like you, shouldn’t you take that as a compliment?”

Things escalated from there. Shaq posted on X, formerly Twitter: “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. Have a great day, and now u have been deleted. Have a great day.” Howard clapped back hard, calling Shaq “insecure” and claiming O’Neal was jealous of Kobe Bryant, Charles Barkley, and others. He also alleged that Shaq once DM’d him years ago, telling him he wasn’t good enough to even hate on.

In a separate interview with Taylor Rooks, Howard addressed the long-standing tension between him and Shaquille O’Neal, particularly surrounding the “Superman” nickname. According to Howard, Shaq seemed to have an issue with him anytime something happened in his career. He never intended to take anything away from Shaq by using the Superman moniker. The name wasn’t about ego or comparison, as the “S” on the chest stands for hope, not just dominance or basketball greatness. Adopting the nickname had nothing to do with trying to emulate Shaq or disrespect him in any way. For Howard, it was about embodying a positive message and living a life defined by character and integrity.

Did They Ever Squash the Beef?

After nearly two decades of jabs and tension, fans finally saw a breakthrough in 2025. In April, Dwight Howard was revealed as a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2025. He made a surprising social media post, saying he wanted Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kevin Garnett to walk him out during the ceremony. “I want KG, Shaq, and Kareem to walk me out,” Howard wrote. Days later, on The Big Podcast with Shaq, co-host Adam Lefkoe told Shaq about Howard’s request. Without hesitation, Shaq responded, “I’ll do it… That’s my guy.”

In the same episode, Shaq shared a story about finally meeting with Howard face-to-face in Orlando. Howard asked Shaq directly, “How come you don’t like me?” But to the shock of everyone, Shaq responded with, “What makes you think I don’t like you?” According to O’Neal, that was his tough love. It was the same as how he used to push other greats like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, saying, “This is what I do to get my guys to go to that next level.” Shaq clarified that the same criticism he gave Howard on TV is what he would’ve said to him in person as a teammate, making it clear that his approach was rooted in accountability, not animosity.

Following that interaction, Howard responded with gratitude. He took to social media to thank Shaq, saying, “Shaq appreciate you man.” And went on to express how meaningful it would be to have not just O’Neal, but also Kevin Garnett, Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar walk him into the Hall of Fame, calling it the “Basketball Heavens.” The exchange marked a major shift in their long-standing feud, hinting that both players were finally ready to put the rivalry behind them.

Now, both men will be wearing Hall of Fame jackets. As Dwight Howard put it best, “We got the same jacket. We’re in the Hall of Fame. So, we just have to respect each other, you know?” And if Shaq does in fact walk Dwight out at the Hall of Fame ceremony, it’ll mark a surreal but fitting end to one of the NBA’s most long-running and public player feuds. 

It took two decades, but finally the war is over. Shaq saw a younger version of himself and demanded more. Howard saw constant criticism from someone he once admired.