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Old beefs clearly die hard, as former NBA centers Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard clearly still hold ill will toward each other despite their largely ego-driven beef now being over 15 years old.
During an appearing on The Art of Dialogue podcast, Dwight Howard — whose been beefing with Shaq since the year Barack Obama was elected President — bemoaned the fact that Shaq “always has something to say” about him.
“Never disrespected him. But he’s always had something to say. There’s times where I’ve gotten upset and I’m like, ‘Yo, Shaq, this gotta stop, man.’ I tried to [talk to him],” Howard said.
Howard even said he became so angry with Shaq he was wondering if the pair were going to have to “throw hands.”
“Do we need to throw hands?”
Former NBA player Dwight Howard reveals he’s willing to fight it out with Shaq and claims Shaq is behind the scenes blocking him from getting opportunities.
(🎥 Ray Daniels Presents/ YouTube) pic.twitter.com/SyKmTi9ndP
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) January 6, 2025
Never one to shy away from drama — A) because he loves it and B) because he’s the size of Shaq — the Basketball Hall of Famer responded to Howard on social media, tagging him in a post to say it’s “funny” he believes that he cares about him, and called him a “jokester that can’t take a joke.”
“@DwightHoward 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. #inevercared #trustme #dontneedvalidationyoudo #stayoffpodcasts #thefactyouthinkicareisfunny #yougottashowrespecttogetrespect #nowyouredeadtome,” Shaq posted on Monday night.
@DwightHoward 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. #inevercared #trustme…
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 7, 2025
Shaq and Howard’s beef can be traced back to 2008 when Howard, participating in the NBA’s dunk contest, wore a Superman cape, with “Superman” being one of the many nicknames that Shaq gave himself over the years.
The pair would spend the rest of their professional playing careers chirping at each other, which is a trend that has clearly continued into retirement.