The Minnesota Timberwolves’ star defender Rudy Gobert has recently caught the basketball community’s attention. A few days ago, former NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal claimed on the ‘Goat Talk’ podcast that Gobert was amongst the worst players. Gobert has come under fire numerous times for his lack of offense and poor playoff performances.
O’Neal remains one of his biggest critics in the NBA. His latest comments may have come off as rude due to Gobert’s accomplishments. Many felt O’Neal’s commentary couldn’t be further from the truth, given the Timberwolves star being awarded the NBA DPOY four times in his career. In response, Gobert fired back, and the feud between O’Neal and Gobert entered a new phase.
It is sad to see someone that has accomplished as much as you did @SHAQ both in sport and business still be triggered by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant.
Rudy Gobert via X
Given Gobert’s accolades in the NBA, O’Neal’s opinion is intriguing. Gobert earned four Defensive Player of the Year titles during his career with the Utah Jazz and the Timberwolves. He was also chosen an All-Star three times and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team seven times. He has remained a crucial player for the Jazz and the Timberwolves in the NBA.
It is sad to see someone that has accomplished as much as you did @SHAQ both in sport and business still be triggered by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant. https://t.co/KPHs2VmfIb
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) September 5, 2024
Furthermore, Gobert dominated the NBA in blocks in the 2016-17 season and rebounds in 2021-22. Moreover, he received honors to the All-NBA Second Team in 2017 and the All-NBA Third Team in 2019, 2020, and 2021. As such, a better argument can be made that more players are much worse than Gobert in the NBA.
Shaquille O’Neal once made a bold claim regarding 4-time DPOY Rudy Gobert
Shaquille O’Neal and Rudy Gobert have been going at each other for quite some months. In the past, many wondered how a prime vs. prime matchup between Gobert and Shaq would go. This became the tipping point of their rivalry as both gave out their predictions.
Notably, in March 2024, O’Neal made a bold claim on The Big Podcast along with another former NBA player, Mario Chalmers. O’Neal criticized the points scored by Gobert. Not only that, he also took a jab at Gobert, asserting that he is making ‘too much money.’
If I were 42, I’d be making Rudy Gobert money. Twelve points and eight rebounds? I could do this s**t right now. It’s not a diss, it’s a fact. Making $250 million, averaging twelve points.
Shaquille O’Neal via The Big Podcast
Gobert recently ended a season with the Timberwolves, where he averaged 14.0 points and 12.9 rebounds. In 2024-25, Gobert will earn a base salary of $43,827,587 after he signed a five-year $205 million contract. Whether Gobert is overpaid or not remains another story. Nevertheless, Shaq has taken a dislike to Gobert on multiple levels and it might not end anytime soon.
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