"If I say something and you respond sensitively, that shows me you don't have it" - Shaq explains why he critiqued Dwight so much
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Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has never shied away from expressing his thoughts. Whether it was during his heyday or now that he’s a renowned media personality, the man known as “The Diesel” doesn’t hesitate to share his thoughts on a situation or a player. One guy who’s been in Shaquille’s crosshairs for a while now is Dwight Howard.
Throughout Howard’s career, Shaq has been highly critical of the big man’s game and approach to his craft. During a recent interview on JJ Redick’s “The Old Man and the Three,” O’Neal explained why he often publicly criticized Dwight.
Test his character
The original “Superman” clarified that with Dwight, it was never a personal conflict. Instead, as someone who saw the potential the high-leaping, broad-shouldered big man from Atlanta held, the “Big Aristotle” wanted to light a fire from under DH12 to see if he could reach new heights.
Despite his cheerful demeanor and seemingly relaxed attitude towards the game, Howard possessed the necessary skills to excel on both offense and defense. Early in his career, Howard showcased his prowess by winning the Defensive Player of the Year award three times and securing the rebounding title five times.
“I am the current president of the Big Man Alliance,” Shaq said, referring to the NBA’s fraternity of big men. “I like all big men who have the opportunity to overthrow me, and sometimes I will add fuel to the fire to see what type of people they are. And if I say something, and you respond, and you respond sensitively, that shows me you don’t have it.”
The Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic legend added that most of what he says on the award-winning “Inside the NBA” is in jest and should not be taken seriously, adding that if he does have something to say to someone, it won’t be done on a public platform.
“You got to understand about me; when I’m serious, the world won’t know. It’ll just be me and you,” O’Neal stated. “A lot of times, I just be playing. So, am I serious when I talk about these guys? No, it’s fun. I’m a fun guy. Yeah, because again, when it’s serious, you’ll know it’s serious.”
Wanted Dwight to become better than him
On the surface, it may look like Shaq had a vendetta against someone who has the same moniker as him: “Superman.” However, the four-time NBA champ explained that his words came from wanting the 6-foot-10 big man to maximize his God-given talents and achieve more in the NBA.
“So it all started with Dwight when I said he needs to average 28-and-10. You want to be dominant, you want to call yourself Superman? I know this for a fact: 28-and-10. When you get to the playoffs, add five to your PPG, and that’s how you become a dominant big man,” Shaq added.
In a separate interview with All-Star guard Trae Young, Shaq even went as far as saying he loved Dwight, and felt he could be a big brother to him.
“I love Dwight Howard. Other people don’t know that this is my first time saying that. But as a big brother, I ain’t gonna let my little brother slide. Because I want you to be better than me. So a lot of people don’t understand this thing of ours, they think it’s just hate. No, I don’t hate. I’m telling you how to get here,” Shaquille remarked.
With Dwight already out of the NBA and looking less likely to return to the big league, could we see him and Shaq mend fences soon? With the two maturing and having better perspectives in life now, it’s definitely a possibility.