Shaquille O'Neal has refused to mention ex-NBA star's name ever again on TV after 'personal' beef with him
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has refused to mention the name of another former player after a 'personal' rivalry between the pair.
O'Neal, who stood at an incredible 7ft 1in tall during his playing career, had an iconic NBA career that spanned 19 years.
He played for six franchises, winning three NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers between 2000 and 2002.
He won his fourth title with the Miami Heat in 2006 before retiring after a stint with Boston Celtics in 2011.
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O'Neal was the NBA Finals MVP in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and was named in the NBA All-Star Team on 15 occasions.
He played against legendary names such as Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
But after transitioning into a TV pundit and starring on the TNT show 'Inside the NBA', 'Shaq' has recently begun to refuse to say the name of one player due to a personal feud between the pair.
The player in question is Dwight Howard, who was an active NBA star between 2004 and 2022 and played against O'Neal on many occasions.
He earned the nickname 'Superman' - which was previously used by O'Neal - and wore a Superman cape during the 2008 NBA Dunk contest.
O'Neal would go on to claim in 2012 that 2021 champion center Brook Lopez was a better player than Howard - which he later claimed was a motivational tactic.
In response, Howard said: "I don't care what Shaq says. Shaq played the game. He's done, he's gone. It's time to move on.
"He hated the fact, you know, that when he played, the older guys were talking about him and how he played, and now he's doing the exact same thing ... you did your thing. Your time is up."
O'Neal has continued to make comments about Howard, largely in the context of his 'Superman' nickname, over the years, and recently stated he would no longer mention his name on-air.
Speaking on 'The Gauds Show' in January: "That was the thing I hated the most - he always thought I was trying to be him, or be like him.
"But if I wanted to be you or be like you, shouldn't you take that as a compliment to show how great you are as a player and as a person?
"I've never wanted to be Shaq at any level. Have I wanted to take certain things from him, his life, and implement them in my life? Hell yeah. I've done that with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James. Why? Because they have certain things that I'm like, 'Yeah, I can use that and make myself better'.
"[Shaq] has always had something to say. There are times I've got upset and I'm like, 'Shaq, this has got to stop, man'. I tried to [talk to him about it].
"I have not ever... the only thing I'd do with Shaq is mimic his voice. What else can I mimic him about? He's Shaquille O'Neal, the most dominant center ever. But again, he keeps saying stuff about me."
Topics: Shaquille ONeal, NBA
Ryan Smart