The Dwight Howard vs Shaquille O’Neal beef is starting to get ugly.
The former NBA pair are two of the greatest centers of the last 25 years, but have never seen eye to eye.
The tension started around Howard’s rise to prominence with the Orlando Magic, which often drew comparisons to Shaq who started his career in Orlando.
Their playing style and larger than life personalities were also obvious, but the real problem seemed to stem from Howard adopting the ‘Superman’ nickname around the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest – a moniker that became synonymous with Shaq during his Hall of Fame career.
O’Neal has been highly critical of Howard in the years since, criticizing D12 for his performances and overall ‘soft’ nature.
Now, their long-running feud has been reignited again following Howard’s recent appearance on Ray Daniels Presents.
“I hated the most is the fact that he always thought I was trying to be him or be like him,” Howard said.
“But again, if I wanted to be you or be like him, shouldn’t you take that as a compliment and show how great you are as a player and a person?”
Howard then revealed that he’s considered rolling up to the TNT studio where Shaq works as an analyst for Inside the NBA to ask him, ‘What’s his deal?’
“You keep doing it, so I’m gonna have to talk to you man to man. I was finna roll up to the studio and be like, ‘Yo, what’s the deal?’” Howard went on.
“Do we need to throw hands?”
Nevertheless, it looked like Howard was ready to end his long feud with Shaq.
“We’re still going on with the pettiness. At what point does it stop? Do you have a real issue? Let’s move past it… Sit down and have a conversation.”
“All right, Shaq, I just never disrespected. But he’s always had something to say, and you know there are times where I got enough, and I’m like, yo Shaq just gotta stop,” Howard continued.
However, Shaq saw what Howard said and didn’t seem bothered about burying the hatchet.
“Dwight Howard, 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,” Shaq wrote on X.
It didn’t take long for Howard to fire back, calling Shaq ‘insecure’ and ‘jealous’ of the many great players he played alongside.
“I know you care. Cuz yo insecure a** been hating and talking s*** for 20 years,” Howard replied.
“You too 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.”
Howard added: “Jealous of Kobe, Penny, Dwayde. You jealous of Charles too. Go move around big lazy insecure a***.
“I still have that long 5 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.”