It doesn't matter that Rudy Gobert has been awarded the Defensive Player of the Year award three different times and continues to be considered one of the Timberwolves' top stars heading into the 2024-25 campaign, he is still recognized by many of his peers and even NBA Hall of Famers. That is why the French center did not inform that Shaquille O'Neal called him the worst player of all time.
That's why Rudy decided to speak his mind on social media. “It's sad to see a person who has achieved so much like you @SHAQ in sports and business is still being sung by someone else's money.”
“I get the entertainment part but unlike other people, you don't need those things to stay relevant,” Gobert wrote. Although many have labeled his response as “shooting back” in Lakers history, the truth is that his comments seemed calm and composed, trying not to hurt Shaq, but still putting him in his place.
Rudy Gobert SHUTS Shaq down by calling him the worst player ever 👀 pic.twitter.com/4AuG0Ys87B
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) September 5, 2024
Many fans and pundits say Gobert is over the top, but no one has gone so far as to compare him to the worst players to ever compete in the league. It all started when O'Neal recently went on a podcast with his son, Myles O'Neal, of Complex.
The Hall of Famer participated in the YouTube channel GOAT Speak and was asked, “Who is the worst NBA player of all time?” Without hesitation, O'Neal said “Rudy Gobert,” Shaq said, then added, “Ben Simmons is one of the abusers.”
Gobert's contract with the T-Wolves is $205 million over five years, a deal he signed in December 2020 while still a member of the Utah Jazz, and it's all guaranteed money.
Gobert was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year leading up to that contract, and won the award again last season after averaging 2.1 blocks and 9.2 defensive steals per game for Minnesota.
Shaq strongly defended his position by saying that players like Gobert and Simmons don't deserve the contracts they're being offered.
Shaq then explained his opinion on this sensitive issue. “If you sign a $250 million contract, show me you're worth $250 million. There's a reason why I walk so funny, why I can't turn my neck – it's because I played hard to get my $120 million. Guys like him screw up the system, make all this money, and then they can't play. So I don't respect such players,” he said.
The retired star confirmed that he was telling the truth. “Every time I make these statements, people think I hate them, but these are the facts. “You have teachers, firefighters, and doctors who have real jobs and don't pay much,” said Shaquille.
O'Neal's opinion on this matter is more interesting than most, as he was considered one of the greatest players to ever grace the basketball court, and his opposition could have turned to any other way to get him out of the game. So Shaq, who spent 20 years in the league with six different franchises, knows a thing or two.
The Hall of Famer faced many players during his time defending the Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavaliers and Celtics, including some of the greatest of all time like LeBron James and even Michael Jordan.
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