Dwight Howard launches no-holds-barred attack on Shaquille O'Neal, accusing him of jealousy toward Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade

The social media feud between Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal has been going on for years. Recently, Howard challenged Shaq to a boxing match, but O’Neal refused because he would only fight champs with “more than one ring” like Rob Gronkowski. D12 responded that he didn’t know the rules but said that it was “fair” to wait until he turned 50 to challenge Shaq again.

On Monday, the former LA Lakers stars went back at it again. Howard wrote on X, formerly Twitter:

“Yo insecure a** has been talking s**t for 20 years. You to big to be this insecure. I hope you don’t bring my name up again. 52 years old tweeting me. And still hating.

“You always been jealous. Jealous of Kobe [Bryant], penny [Hardaway], dwayde [Wade]. You jealous of Charles [Barkley] too. … It’s 2025 grow the hell up. And move on.”

Shaquille O'Neal, in the latest episode of his podcast, sent messages to Howard and the Lakers. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year pushed back, asking Shaq to stop caring and sending him messages. O’Neal called Howard a “jokester” and vowed never to say Howard’s name “ever again.”

Dwight Howard last played in the NBA in the 2021-22 season. When he couldn’t sign with another team, he played in Taiwan, a decision Shaquille O’Neal has sometimes taken shots at. In response, Howard has called Shaq “insecure” and has often urged him to “grow up.”

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Dwight Howard challenges Shaquille O'Neal to sit down for a talk and accuses him of taking away opportunities “behind closed doors”

Dwight Howard appeared on Ray Daniels’ show on Monday to talk about life and basketball. Inevitably, the discussion veered toward the beef between Howard and Shaquille O'Neal.

Howard emphatically claimed that he never once disrespected O’Neal. He admitted that he sometimes mimicked the big man’s voice for fun. Howard added that he asked some people close to O’Neal if they could have a dialogue, but nothing came out of his request.

D12 had this to say when Ray Daniels said that O’Neal is one of the “real, male leaders out there:”

“If you are that real leader, sit down and have a conversation! … He do me personal. He says stuff and he keeps saying stuff and certain things I don’t get on, it’s because he is behind closed doors to make sure that I’m not on it.”