Shaquille O’Neal explains his issue with Dwight Howard – NBA News
Shaquille O’Neal is out with a new book and has been doing the rounds to promote it. The retired NBA legend took the opportunity during a book promotion to speak up about his rumoured problems with Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic
Centre.
Shaquille played in the NBA for 19 years. During this time, he represented various franchises including the famed Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. He won NBA Championships at both clubs and had memorable stints elsewhere
as well.
He himself became an offensive behemoth the likes of which was not seen by many in recent times. His size, power and explosive dunking set him apart from most NBA centres, and Shaq had a colourful personality to go with all that.
He adorned himself with many a titles, which included the Diesel, Superman and Shaq Fu. However, during the last few years, another man has arisen to claim the title of Superman; Dwight Howard. Howard is a beast of a centre and
his impressive play reminds most people of Shaq’s early days.
The fact that he has started his career at the Orlando Magic, the same place where Shaq’s journey began, has also heightened comparisons between the two. But Shaq didn’t like anyone else taking his nickname, and he let Howard know,
along with the media.
Looking back, O’Neal says he earned the respect of fans over a very long career. During that time he has won 4 NBA World Championships and 3 Finals MVP awards alongside numerous other accolades. Howard hasn’t, so Shaq didn’t think
that Dwight was his equal.
It wasn’t a matter of picking a fight; it was a point of view.
“I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. But you can’t be Shaq when Shaq is still here,” he said. “I’m not saying that in a bad way. But Superman is right here. And he’s done a lot. So do some other [expletive].”
O’Neal said he doesn’t have anything against Howard, who is a fine player in his own right. It was the media and the people on the internet who had turned it all into such a big deal.
“But I hate it when these bloggers and Websites try and take everything that’s said and make it a fight. It’s not like that. In this world we all have our opinions. But we don’t always have to agree.”
Shaq also said that the younger generation of NBA players is breaking new barriers and doing all kinds of stuff that wasn’t done before. He hinted that their attitude smacks of arrogance, but that was all part of the game.
“You look at some of the stuff the young guys do and you shake your head. It’s crazy the stuff some of these guys do,” he said.
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