It’s safe to say that Rudy Gobert doesn’t have a fan in Shaquille O’Neal.
During a recent podcast appearance, Shaq once again criticized the former Utah Jazz player, calling him the worst NBA player of all time and saying he doesn’t deserve his contract.
Gobert responded to the assessment in a X post shared Thursday.
“It’s sad to see someone who has accomplished as much as you (Shaq) have in both sports and business still be influenced by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I understand the entertainment aspect, but unlike some people, you don’t need that kind of thing to stay relevant,” he wrote.
Rudy Gobert trade
Part of the conflict between Shaq and Gobert stems from the successful business between the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2022 that sent Gobert to Minnesota.
In exchange for the French center, the Jazz received several players and several first-round picks. The deal essentially reset the NBA trade market, forcing teams to shell out significantly more for star players, as Desert News previously reported.
Shaq is among those who don’t believe Gobert was worth all that — and don’t believe he deserves the massive contract Minnesota took from the Jazz.
“There’s guys like him that have messed up the system, that make all this money and can’t play. So I don’t respect guys like that,” Shaq said during his recent podcast appearance.
Does Rudy Gobert deserve his contract?
Shaq’s comments are probably confusing to some NBA fans. Is it fair to say that Gobert can’t play after he just won a equaling a record fourth Defensive Player of the Year award?
Gobert played 76 games for Minnesota during the 2023-24 regular season and averaged 14 points per game, per NBA.comPerhaps most importantly, he averaged nearly 13 total rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks.
But Gobert has certainly had some tough moments in basketball in recent months. Most notably, he was benched during the Olympics as the French team sought a medal.
French coach Vincent Collet said Gobert was benched so the team could try smaller lineups, according to ESPN.
Controversies surrounding Gobert
In addition to being criticized for his on-field performances, Gobert has been scrutinized for his sometimes contentious relationships with other players.
A ESPN An article this spring noted that he was often mocked and teased by other NBA stars — and particularly Draymond Green — even during the peak moments of his career.
When asked USA Today To give more context to his recent criticism of Gobert, Shaq said he hoped his words would motivate Gobert to play so well that Shaq would look stupid.
“I don’t hate you, I’m telling you the truth. If you don’t like the truth, you gotta face it,” Shaq said. “Show me what you can do. … Shut me up.”