Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been shy about his opinions on Rudy Gobert, particularly due to the Minnesota Timberwolves star’s hefty contract versus his performance on the court. O’Neal has recently even gone as far as to call Gobert the “Worst of All Time.”
Shaquille O’Neal and Rudy Gobert (Images Credit: Getty Images)
The Team USA vs. France game at the Paris Olympics provided Shaq with another opportunity to voice his criticism. During the match, Gobert was seen falling on the floor and then grabbing Team USA center Joel Embiid’s knees, with his head uncomfortably close to Embiid’s groin area.
This incident soon caught Shaq’s attention, and he reinforced his critical stance on Gobert. On a recent episode of The OGs podcast, Shaq revisited the controversial moment while criticizing Gobert’s defensive capabilities.
“A lot of these big men fail when I put out these challenges. All the stuff I’m saying about Rudy, you right. You don’t think I’m right? Look at this play right here. Why would somebody push you down, and you fall and grab their knees and put your head between their legs?” Shaq said.
“You’re the Defensive Player of the Year, but every scouting report I’m looking at, they’re targeting you,” he added.
Derek Fisher Reflects on Shaquille O’Neal’s Unmatched Dominance and Legacy
Recently, on ‘Byron Scott’s Fast Break’ podcast, former teammate Derek Fisher offered high praise for Shaquille O’Neal. He shared the uniqueness of Shaq’s dominance, comparing him to other legendary players.
“People have no idea how big and strong Shaquille O’Neal was. It’s not even close to any comparison. As dominant as Nikola Jokic has been and deserving of the MVPs, the way he dominates the game is obviously extremely different from Shaq,” Fisher said.
“Everyone says it—there is no matchup for this dude, right? That was Shaq. There was no matchup for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. None. There was no matchup for Michael Jordan,” he added.
The former NBA star accumulated a remarkable list of accolades throughout his career, including four NBA championships. Although he isn’t often mentioned in the GOAT debate, his exceptional performance and dedication to his team are undeniable.
