Dwight Howard has been making headlines in 2025. First, he tied the knot with Amy Luciani. Then, he secured his place in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame. But no matter what he does, he just can’t shake off Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms. Their feud has dragged on for over a decade, with Shaq never missing a chance to take shots at Howard. Things escalated again recently when Howard appeared on The Gauds Show, venting about Shaq’s constant criticism.
“There’s times where I’ve gotten upset and I’m like, ‘Yo, Shaq, this gotta stop, man.’ I tried to [talk to him].”
But aside from the never-ending beef, there’s another thing that has stuck with him throughout the years. It was Kobe Bryant’s dunk on him during his rookie season. You know the one — Kobe flying in, over Howard’s head, and the whole crowd erupting. Howard himself admitted it was a humbling experience. “Kobe, he dunked on me. That’s when I realized I was still a rookie,” he once said. Fast forward to recent times, and Rashad McCants did something unexpected — he showed up at Gil’s Arena wearing a shirt with that exact moment printed on it. But it was not his first plan. His initial choice might have caused some sparks to fly between Howard and Rashad!
Recently while appearing on Howard’s podcast, McCants revealed his original plan. He had two shirts: one featuring Kobe with ice packs, and another capturing the unforgettable dunk. At first, he considered wearing a Shaquille O’Neal jersey instead, which would have made a strong statement. “That would be a dope-a** troll, but I don’t dislike Dwight like that,” McCants admitted, realizing it would come off as disrespectful. He added, “That would be me taking Shaq’s side type s***. And I’m like, nah.” In the end, he chose the Kobe shirt in order to steer clear of any potential drama.
Mar 22, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) and center Dwight Howard (12) in the first half of the game against the Washington Wizards at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Moreover, he also stated, “It was the only dunk that ever really got by him. It was like the first thing ever we ever seen, and it was young Dwight, so it was kind of like a homage.” Howard, taking it in stride, responded with a laugh. “He got me, bro,” he said, acknowledging McCants’ choice. Despite being on the receiving end of the dunk, Howard recognized it as a legendary NBA moment. Even years later, that single play still carries weight, reminding everyone of Kobe’s greatness—and Howard’s unforgettable introduction to the league.
Shaquille O’Neal vs. Dwight Howard: the beef that can’t seem to die
How long are these two going to keep this going? Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard have been taking shots at each other for years. It started when Howard joined the Lakers in 2012 — Shaq’s old team. Ever since Shaq has made it clear he’s not a fan.
Recently, Howard spoke out on The Gauds Show, saying he’s tired of Shaq’s constant jabs. Shaq fired back on social media, writing, “The fact u think I care about u is funny… Won’t ever say your name again ever again.” That sounded like the end of it, right? Well, not exactly.
Just days later, Charles Barkley jokingly ranked Howard above Shaq in Orlando Magic history on Inside the NBA. That hit a nerve. Shaq, visibly irritated, shot back, “Hey, but I’ve got more rings than you and [Dwight Howard] combined. And Wilt. I’ve got more rings than all of y’all.”
Howard wasted no time responding, posting, “Glad you kept your promise .” The sarcasm was loud and clear — Shaq said he’d stop talking about him, but here they were again.
So, what’s really fueling this beef? Some say it goes back to the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest when Howard wore a Superman cape — Shaq’s longtime nickname. Former NBA player Rashad McCants even claimed Shaq saw Howard as a threat, saying, “You could see Shaq wasn’t comfortable with someone being compared to him.”
Is this just competitive trash talk, or does Shaq really have it out for Howard? Either way, it doesn’t seem like they’re letting it go anytime soon.
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