Dwight Howard has had an eventful start to 2025. The former NBA star recently married Amy Luciani, and now he’s set for another milestone—his induction into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame. In addition, there are also rumors hinting at another major project. A potential film where he plays the role of a cop, perhaps. However, while seasons may change from winter to spring, one thing remains constant — his beef with Shaquille O’Neal.
How long are the two going to keep this decade-long beef? Their rocky relationship has been public for years. Shaq has never been a fan of Howard, often taking shots at him. Their tension dates back to 2012, when Howard joined the Lakers — Shaq’s former team. Things reignited when Howard appeared on The Gauds Show, expressing frustration with Shaq’s constant jabs. This led to Shaq firing back on X (formerly Twitter): “The fact u think I care about u is funny… Won’t ever say your name again ever again.” However, his vow to stop mentioning Howard didn’t last long.
Just days ago, Shaq stated that he would no longer talk about Howard. However, during a discussion on Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley brought up the best centers in Orlando Magic history. While ranking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain above Shaq among Lakers greats, Barkley then jokingly placed Howard ahead of Shaq in Orlando’s history. This immediately struck a nerve. Shaq, clearly irritated, responded, “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.” His comment reawaken the long-standing tension between him and Howard.
Glad you kept your promise https://t.co/vDvoVIUTWj
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) March 15, 2025
Howard quickly caught wind of Shaq’s latest dig. He took to X with a sarcastic response: “Glad you kept your promise .” His reaction highlighted how Shaq had broken his word just days after vowing to move on. While Shaq might not have directly mentioned Howard’s name, his words were clearly aimed at him.
Well, Shaq can’t be blamed completely for this one, as he was clearly goaded to bring Howard. But as facts stand, he ended up once again putting down the latter, which didn’t earn him any favor from the 3x Defensive Player of the Year.
Discussion around Dwight Howard’s Hall of Fame honor — Deserved or not?
To put things in perspective, Shaq isn’t the only one to fire shots at Dwight Howard! His co-host from Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley, also recently mentioned Howard, but for all the wrong reasons. So what did Chuck have to say about Howard?
Dwight Howard’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From a young player with big dreams to the Orlando Magic’s all-time leading scorer, his career speaks for itself. And now, he’s adding another milestone — his induction into the Magic’s Hall of Fame. “I am so grateful to be able to have this opportunity,” he shared previously.
But not everyone is clapping. Enters Charles Barkley, the man who never shies away from saying what’s on his mind. During a recent NBA on TNT broadcast, a graphic showed Howard as the Magic’s 13th inductee. Instead of congratulating him, Barkley raised an eyebrow. “13? I wanna know who the first 12 are,” he joked, finding the number a bit excessive.
USA Today
It’s classic Barkley — sarcastic, unfiltered, and brutally honest. But does he have a point? The Magic’s Hall of Fame isn’t as widely recognized as the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and Barkley’s skepticism is understandable. However, Howard’s stats are undeniable. He holds the franchise record for points, rebounds, and blocks. He even led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009. So, doesn’t his legacy warrant this honor?
Barkley’s remarks sparked debate, but they don’t change the reality—Howard is in. And whether you agree or not, his impact on the Magic is etched in history. What do you think? Did the Magic get this right, or is Barkley onto something?
The post Dwight Howard Notices Shaquille O’Neal’s Consideration After Charles Barkley Touches a Nerve appeared first on EssentiallySports.
