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Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Truth Why He Keeps Criticizing Dwight Howard

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 5/7/24

It’s very obvious there’s no love lost between NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard. But just recently, the four-time champion opened up on why he keeps criticizing the All-Star big man throughout the years.

The beef between O’Neal and Howard can be traced back in 2008 when the latter showed up in that year’s All-Star Slam Dunk Contest claiming he was Superman, a nickname the former Los Angeles Lakers star used. Even after retiring from the league, the former number one pick used his new job as an NBA analyst for TNT to keep on criticizing Howard at different points of his career.

After his MVP-worthy stint with the Orlando Magic, Howard bounced around the league , starting with the Lakers. Once his disastrous stint with the late Kobe Bryant was done, the All-Star big man played for different teams, such as the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers.

In 2020, Howard found redemption when he became an NBA champion as part of a LeBron James-led Lakers team inside the Bubble in Orlando. Since then, he bounced around the league as a journeyman again and remained inactive after a stint playing basketball in Taiwan.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Why He Constantly Criticizes Dwight Howard

Just recently, the Lakers legend opened up before JJ Reddick on why he’s that way with Howard. In a video shared by ClutchPoints on X:

“I have to like you to be able to say something about you. And I actually like Dwight… And sometimes I will add fuel to the fire to see what type of people they are.”

Shaq on why he criticizes Dwight Howard

(via @OldManAndThree / YT)pic.twitter.com/1lvJ85DWdB

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 6, 2024

O’Neal added that Howard doesn’t have what it takes to become better after getting criticized. In comparison, the Lakers legend has won more championships, accolades, and has established himself as one of the best centers to every play in the league. He has also scored more points, grabbed more rebounds, and played with better players throughout the time he spent as a star.

With the revelation out in the NBA, Howard has yet to respond to his critic’s claims. Whether he accepts it with positivity or not will only be known in the coming days. Otherwise, the issue will die silently if Howard maintains his silence on the analyst’s comments about him.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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