The ongoing feud between Rudy Gobert and Shaquille O’Neal added another chapter on Thursday.
The four-time NBA champion has made multiple references to the Minnesota Timberwolves center over the years, and his most recent comment came while appearing on Complex’s “GOAT Talk” podcast alongside his son, Myles O’Neal.
Myles asked his dad who the worst NBA player of all time was. Shaq answered Gobert, to which Myles asked, “What about Ben Simmons?”, who Shaq then called “a bum too.”
Myles chuckled and apologized to Simmons and Gobert before Shaq made a statement.
“If you sign a $250 million contract, show me you’re 250,” Shaq said. “There’s a reason why I walk funny and why I can’t turn my neck and why I can’t is because I played for my $120 million. So there are guys like him who break the system and make so much money and still can’t play. I don’t respect guys like that.”
The comments caught Gobert’s attention, who responded to X.
It is sad to see someone who has achieved as much as you @SHAQ in both sports and business, another man’s finances and achievements can still serve as a catalyst. I understand the entertainment part, but unlike other people, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant. https://t.co/KPHs2VmfIb
– Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) 5 September 2024
O’Neal has often criticized Gobert since the four-time Defensive Player of the Award winner signed a five-year, $205 million contract in December 2020. O’Neal said on a March episode of his podcast that if he were 42, he would be making “Rudy Gobert’s money.”
“Twelve points and eight rebounds? I could do that shit right now,” O’Neal said.
He also dismissed Gobert’s defensive influence on the same episode.
Shaq believes Bam Adebayo should win the DPOY title ahead of Rudy Gobert… do you agree? 👀
EP 12 OUT NOW | https://t.co/en2LcbqflC pic.twitter.com/BLS6eYAXKy
– The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) March 14, 2024
Gobert told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon in April 2024 that he had come to terms with being the most ridiculed player in the NBA. The center has been criticized by various members of the league, including Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.