‘Do we need to throw hands?’ Shaquille O’Neal-Dwight Howard beef still going strong in 2025

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Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal, right, looks for an opening around Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard on March 3, 2009. (John Raoux / Associated Press)

Shaquille O’Neal declared Monday night that he will never mention Dwight Howard’s name again.

So does that mean the feud between the two former Lakers is over? That the beef that has spanned more than a decade and very well may have originated with something as seemingly insignificant as Howard’s usage of O’Neal’s Superman nickname has finally come to an end?

Sorry, but apparently not.

O’Neal was back to trashing Howard again Tuesday morning, a day after the conflict between the two big men was reignited yet again by comments Howard made during a podcast appearance. Shaq did, however, remain true to his word and actually avoided mentioning Howard’s name — instead referring to the eight-time All Star as a “hall of fame podcaster” (sarcastically), “son” (twice) and “podcast boy” (best insult ever).

Read more: Why didn’t Dwight Howard return to Lakers after 2020 title? He and Jeanie Buss clear the air

So, yeah, not a lot of movement in the let’s-get-on-with-our-lives department.

How we got here

Both O’Neal and Howard are former No. 1 overall picks by the Orlando Magic (O’Neal in 1992, Howard in 2004) and NBA champions with the Lakers (O’Neal in the 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons; Howard in 2019-20), although they never overlapped on any team’s roster. O’Neil has been an analyst on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” since 2011 and at times has used that platform, and others, to diss Howard.

Why? Many feel it’s because Howard took over O’Neal’s Superman moniker early in his career, donning a cape and sporting the superhero’s logo while competing in — and winning — the NBA’s slam dunk contest in 2008.

“There can only be 1 Superman !!! #ME,” O’Neal wrote in a 2016 Facebook post that included a doctored photo that showed O’Neal dunking on Howard.

Howard addressed that theory during his appearance on “The Gauds Show” podcast this week.

“I don’t even think it could be about the logo because he wasn’t the first Superman in the league,” said Howard, 39. “So what are you…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/throw-hands-shaquille-oneal-dwight-225625208.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2025-01-07 22:56:00

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