Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard are embroiled in a war of words in the latest escalation of their years-long beef.
It all started with Howard's Jan. 6 appearance on The GAUDs Show. Howard was reflecting on when he first started referring to himself as Superman in 2010, a title that fellow NBA star center O'Neal had given himself. At the time, Howard just wanted their animosity to stay on the court. "I would like, instead of people fighting over a nickname, for us to be able to talk about what it's like to win a championship," he said, per ESPN. "Just little things that him being who he is can help me."
When looking back on his and Shaq's fraught relationship on The GAUDs Show, Howard stated plainly that he "never disrespected" Shaq. "But he's always had something to say," he noted. "There's times where I've gotten upset and I'm like, 'Yo, Shaq, this gotta stop, man.' I tried to [talk to him]."
Shaq wasted little time in responding to Howard's podcast comments in a post on social media.
"The fact you think I care about you 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," Shaq wrote on X. "Have a great day and now you have been deleted. Have a great day."
@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
Howard fired back by pointing out that his fellow Olympic medalist wouldn't be so worked up if he wasn't bothered by what was said.
"I know you care, because your insecure a-- [has] been hating and talking s--t for 20 years. You're too big to be this insecure. I hope you don’t bring my name up again," the 39-year-old said. "52 years old tweeting me. And still hating. Now all this time you was joking. You've always been jealous. Jealous of Kobe, Penny [Hardaway], D-Wade. You're jealous of Charles [Barkley] too. Go move around, big, lazy, insecure a--. I still have that long five-paragraph direct message you sent me a couple years ago telling me that I’m not that great to hate. And you still doing it."
"It’s 2025; grow the hell up and move on," he concluded.
I know you care. Cuz yo insecure ass been hating and talking shit for 20 years. You to big to be this insecure. I hope you don’t bring my name up again. 52 years old tweeting me. And still hating. Now all this time you was joking. You always been jealous. Jealous of Kobe,…
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) January 7, 2025
Shaq offered a lengthy follow-up on Jan. 7 bidding Howard farewell.
"Still don’t care. Nice move. I see what you're doing; your legacy is your new podcast [Above the Rim with DH 12]. That’s how you will be remembered and you need views. Damn, I taught you well. Great job, hall of fame podcaster. But still don’t care."
"You need the sit-down. You need my validation; I don’t need yours. How will you be remembered? Think about that podcast, boy. I have an empire to run. Now leave me, son. I've been talking twenty years but you wanna squabble at 50. Well, I decline. I’m too old. Again, nice move. Love you, son."
Still don’t care nice move I see what you doing, your legacy is your new podcast that’s how u will be remembered and u need views, dam I taught you well,great job hall of fame podcaster. But still don’t care.
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) January 7, 2025
You need the sit down, u need my validation,I don’t need yours, how…
It's probably safe to say there's little love lost between the two star players.
