The beef between NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal and current Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has officially escalated. In a recent episode of "The Big Podcast with Shaq," O'Neal didn't hold back, expressing his strong dislike for Gobert and questioning his massive $250 million contract.
O'Neal's criticism centers around his perception of Gobert's performance not aligning with his hefty paycheck. "I f---ing hate Rudy Gobert," Shaq stated bluntly. "He is making 250M and he doesn't deserve it. As the President of the Big Man Alliance, you making big money, play like a big man. That's it. Throw some bows. Knock some people out. Don't be little white dudes from Denver dunk on you and talk to you. Then you got to grab them by the neck at the last second. If you going to get paid big money, play big."
Shaq's comments reference an incident where Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun dunked on Gobert. He seems to believe Gobert should be more dominant and physical, especially given his status as a four-time Defensive Player of the Year.
This isn't the first time O'Neal has publicly criticized Gobert. In the past, he's questioned Gobert's All-Star selection and expressed doubts about his contract extension. The feud appears to stem from O'Neal's traditional view of what a "big man" should be in the NBA.
While O'Neal has mended fences with other players he's criticized in the past, such as Dwight Howard, it doesn't seem likely that he'll do the same with Gobert anytime soon. The Big Diesel's strong words indicate a deep-seated disagreement about Gobert's value and playing style.
The Dunk That Fueled the Fire
The dunk by Christian Braun over Gobert seems to have particularly irked O'Neal. While Gobert stands at 7'1", he has occasionally been posterized during his career. This specific dunk, however, appeared to be the catalyst for O'Neal's recent outburst.
What's Next for Shaq and Rudy?
It remains to be seen how Gobert will respond to O'Neal's latest comments. The two have a history of back-and-forth exchanges, and this latest development suggests their feud is far from over. Will Gobert address Shaq's criticism on the court with improved performance, or will this continue to be a war of words off the court?