Shaquille O’Neal just dropped one of the most brutal takedowns of Rudy Gobert we’ve ever seen. On the latest episode of ‘The BIG Podcast,’ the Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against the Timberwolves center, blasting everything from his contract to his physicality and even his Hall of Fame credentials.
“I f**king hate Rudy Gobert,” said Shaq. “That motherf**ker makes $250 million [$110 million] and he doesn’t deserve it, dawg. F**k that. As the President of the ‘Big Man Alliance,’ if you’re making big money, play like a big man. If Rudy Gobert gets into the Hall of Fame, I’ll wear this dress to the motherf**king ceremony.”
Shaq is notoriously tough on modern NBA big men, but he treats Gobert the worst. Besides Gobert’s gigantic three-year, $110 million contract (he’s made upward of $400 million throughout his career), O’Neal resents Rudy for his fragile and ‘graceful’ approach to the game. In Shaq’s view, what makes a good big man is being physical and a downright bully in the paint.
“Throw some balls, knock some people out,” O’Neal said. “Don’t let little some white dude from Denver dunk on you and talk sh*t to you, and then you gotta grab them by the neck at the last second.”
The “white dude from Denver” has to be Nikola Jokic, someone that Gobert has historically struggled to defend. He’s lost to the Nuggets several times over his career, frequently getting outplayed by Jokic. That’s not to mention teams like the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Spurs, who all have elite frontcourt rotations.
Despite being a 3x All-Star and 4x Defensive Player of the Year, Gobert doesn’t dominate with brute strength like Shaq, Embiid, or even Victor Wembanyama. His style is more understated, built on timing, rim protection, and positioning. Without a single championship to his name, however, it’s all the more reason to doubt his impact on winning.
Compare Gobert’s softer, more subtle approach to centers like Shaq, Joel Embiid, or even Victor Wembanyama, and it’s clear where the differences lie. Unfortunately for the Diesel, it still may not stop Gobert from making the Hall of Fame, even if his chances are low.
With averages of 12.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game over his career, he won’t be remembered for his amazing numbers. Instead, Gobert will be recognized for his impact defensively. Whether it’s with the Jazz or the Timberwolves, Rudy has certainly made his mark in a unique way, and not everyone is able to appreciate it.
For NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, however, he’ll have more than just dissatisfaction to worry about in his distant future. As it stands, Gobert still has a chance to join the Hall of Fame, and it means he could still get his ultimate revenge moment by seeing Shaq in the crowd wearing a dress.
Whether you agree with Shaq or not, his message is clear: $250 million should come with dominance, not just defense. As Gobert continues to anchor Minnesota’s front line, the pressure is only mounting, not just to win, but to prove legends like Shaq wrong. If Gobert wants to silence the doubters, next season may be his last chance to do it.
