The beef is officially squashed. This year is a big moment for Dwight Howard. Just a few days ago, the Orlando Magic inducted the 2004 No. 1 pick into its Hall of Fame. He is all set to be honored with induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame. And the ex-NBA player named none other than Shaquille O’Neal as one of his presenters to be there on the stage for him. Now, as O’Neal’s podcast teases a new segment involving the two, fans have mixed reactions to it.
Howard made the request on his X handle. “I want KG, Shaq, and Kareem to walk me out #hof,” Howard wrote. But did O’Neal respond? Earlier, Big Aristotle reshared the news of the 8x NBA All-Star being elected as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on his IG story. However, he didn’t make a comment. Finally, during a segment of The Big Podcast, host Adam Lefkoe presented the question to O’Neal.
To this, the Lakers legend agreed. “That’s awesome, I’ll do it. I’ll do it. I’ll be there. That’s my guy,” he said. There’s more to it. Just recently, the official page of The Big Podcast also dropped a teaser image of Howard joining Shaq and Lefkoe for the latest episode. This was quite an unexpected surprise in 2025.
Apart from O’Neal, the former Lakers player asked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Garnett to be his presenters. Due to past back-and-forth during their playing days, Howard had an issue with Garnett as well. However, that is long buried. Both Abdul-Jabbar and Garnett are yet to respond to Howard’s request.
Howard also took to X to express his gratitude to the Lakers legend. “Shaq appreciate you man it will be an honor to have you KG, DROD , Hakeem and Kareem walk me into the Basketball Heavens #hof,” Howard wrote on the same platform where the two were criticising each other. It seems that right after this exchange on X between the two, Howard and O’Neal must have thought of the podcast collaboration.
The beef is squashed pic.twitter.com/FxjolWpVS4
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 19, 2025
Needless to say, fans and netizens are surprised and thrilled all at the same time, with some having wild assumptions.
Are fans bored of Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal podcast collab
How did the feud begin? Both Howard and O’Neal were drafted as the No. 1 pick by the Magic, and there are more similarities between the two. Soon, fans also began to refer to Howard as “Superman” which is also O’Neal’s nickname. In the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, Howard wore a Superman cape, which O’Neal wasn’t fond of. And the feuding between the two was stretched for longer that one might have thought.
“Coulda happened sooner lol!” this netizen wrote. Well, Howard has often urged the Los Angeles Lakers legend to squash the beef, however, O’Neal has refused to do so every time. Be it through tribute, appreciations or simple requests on social media, Howard has opened up about his wish to end this feuding. “Dwight was always the bigger man,” another netizen wrote.
Howard did it again with his request for his Hall of Fame honor. While this comes at a good time for Howard this year, fans have a different opinion. Understandably, the playoffs have begun and so has been the fluctuation of tension with each team battling to maintain its position. Fans are clearly more invested in the playoffs rather than the beef which had been going on for a decade. “Playoffs are on, we don’t care bout no “Dwight”and”shaq ” beef,” a netizen wrote.
Another netizen has an odd assumption which is the two will get on with feuding soon. This fan even mentioned the time and wrote, “They gonna be beefin come next week watch.”
While the Lakers legend has often criticized Howard’s performance harshly in the past, he has often explained how he has a tough love approach for those whom he admires and respects. In his book, Shaq wrote that he expected Howard to win more than three championship titles. “It wasn’t beef in the first place. They both respect each other,” this netizen wrote. Well, as of now, the beefing seems to have finally ended.
The post “We Don’t Care”: Fans Split Over Shaquille O’Neal & Dwight Howard News Amid Playoffs Tension appeared first on EssentiallySports.
