haquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard have never been truly on good terms, and this has gone on for many years. Howard started his career with the Orlando Magic, and he led the Magic to the NBA finals back in 2009. Due to him playing the same position as Shaq, and the similarities in how they began their careers, how they both feuded with the late great Kobe Bryant, and how both of them joined the LA Lakers during their primes, naturally fans and media alike have drawn comparisons. Shaq didn't like Howard wearing the Superman custome in the 2008 slam dunk contest, and the feud has only gotten pettier since.
When the LA Lakers recently won the championship, Howard was on Instagram live and put out a heartfelt message to never give up when the going gets tough. He waited his entire career for this moment, to be called a champion, and he was understandably letting his emotions out.
And unfortunately, this latest comments by Shaq on "The Big Podcast With Shaq", has made the feud hit rock bottom.
"There’s a lot on players on their little Instagram bragging like they was the reason they got the championship. I’m not going to say any names. Sit your ass down, you didn’t do nothing. Stop that. Post one pic and sit your ass down."
Howard did not have a great finals, but he was excellent during the path to the finals, with the exception of the Houston Rockets series due to matchups. He was outstanding particularly in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets when he was tasked with guarding Nikola Jokic. He made 73% of his field goal attempts and played excellent interior defense with good rebounding inside during the LA Laker playoff run in the bubble. More importantly, Howard left his ego to the door, embraced his role, and accepted what coach Frank Vogel gave him.
It's important to mention that during the late years of Shaq's career, it was well known that he was ring chasing when he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. No one is taking away anything from the great Shaquille O'Neal, he is in the top 10 of the greatest players to have ever picked up a basketball, he has a statue outside the Staples center and is cemented forever as a Laker great, but he comes across as petty with comments such as this.
Shaq once said that it is "an unwritten rule that all big guys stick together." He should practice what he preaches, because this unnecessary feud has gone on for years and has become childish.
Unfortunately, this isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
