Ah, it never stops. Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard‘s beef is what we are talking about. It all started when Dwight wore a Superman costume in the 2008 dunk contest while representing Orlando Magic. O’Neal saw that as an attempt to steal his persona. Since then, their arguments have been getting ridiculous.

Now when JJ Redick was on The Big Podcast recently, he nearly got into trouble with Shaquille O’Neal. Why? Redick arrived on the scene playing in Orlando Magic, the same as Shaq a decade before. But Redick was on the team with Dwight Howard, someone who also dubbed himself Superman- as O’Neal did. During a heated debate, Shaq provoked Redick to pick a side. Now prolonging this feud of the Supermans, Dwight Howard himself has responded.

He did it on his own podcast, Above the Rim with D-12. Staying on their usual theme that their feud is not real, Howard said, “I seen the clip with him and JJ. He said instead of saying who’s the best magic player, try to say who’s the most dominant. Obviously, you dominated. Hell you, 7’4. I’m 6’10 doing the same thing Shaq doing… I’m not making no excuses.” 

However, Shaq has four championships which he won in LA and Miami over Howard. He achieved a lot after his Orlando days. But Shaq dared Redick to say out loud, “You probably got Dwight [Howard] over me as the Magic’s best big man ever.” Redick took a diplomatic escape out of that trap.

On behalf of his former teammate, Howard said about Shaq, “He did what he did and I love everything that he did but come on, man. As far as whoever was in that Magic jersey, come on man. I’m the best one.”

Let’s have a look at a quick comparison between Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard’s time with Orlando Magic:

Howard has contended before as well that he was the better player. When Shaq became the first player in franchise history to have his number retired, Howard was hyped for O’Neal but simultaneously hinted he should be next. Since then, he’s stepped up a campaign that he should’ve been the first Orlando player to have his jersey retired but didn’t discount that Shaq deserved the honor just the same. It’s moments like this that leave us scratching our heads if there’s any real animosity between them.

The love-hate relationship between two Supermans

Everyone believes the animosity originates over who has the bigger stake in Orlando’s legacy. It must have irked Shaq to no end when Howard stole the Superman label in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk contest. Disguised compliments and provocative statements between them have become the norm recently.

Shaq saved his harshest criticism for Howard but claimed it was his form of tough love. Yet when he dared Redick to rank Magic’s best big men, O’Neal himself said, “The best Orlando Magic big man ever, say it it’s only three – me, Dwight, and Greg Kite.” Interestingly, he put himself first. But he also acknowledged that Howard is squarely placed among the best players the franchise had ever seen.

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However, their social media antics are totally different. In January, referring to Shaq, Howard tweeted, “I never had a problem with you so can we finally end this as adults.” What did Shaquille O’Neal reply? “Nope lol.”

Well, it doesn’t seem like the bickering will stop anytime soon. With the recent discussion between Shaq and Redick, we expected Howard to respond. And the two bickering Supermans predictably don’t disappoint. Your turn next, Shaq.