“Me and Gronk gonna put together NBA vs NFL.” Little did Shaquille O’Neal think that the trash talk that would emerge from this challenge would be brutal. Yep, Rob Gronkowski didn’t hold back with his words during his recent appearance on Dudes on Dudes.
The 4x Super Bowl champ, alongside Julian Edelman, was reacting to Inside the NBA crew enacting some of the New England Patriots’ most iconic plays. But when a clip of Big Diesel popped up, Gronk just couldn’t hold back.
“Shaq wants to fight me… Look how slow you are, bro. I accept that. Fight. Right here, right now, anytime, anywhere, any place… I don’t even have to train if I’m fighting you, Shaq.” Ouch. But no denying that’s some serious confidence for sure. And just in case Shaq didn’t hear him the first time, Gronk doubled down after watching an Inside the NBA clip.
“He’s big. He’s slower than an ant. I’m fighting you,” Rob said on Dudes on Dudes. But, hold on a second. Sure, Shaquille O’Neal is not exactly sprinting up and down the court these days, but let’s not forget what this man was capable of in his prime.
Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal before game one of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
If you’ve ever watched the former Los Angeles Lakers star dominate in his heyday, you know calling him slow isn’t entirely fair. Need proof? Let’s rewind to 2010 when a then-37-year-old Shaq took on track and field star Tyson Gay in a head-to-head race during Shaq vs Shaq. The rules? A 60-meter sprint—but with a twist. O’Neal got a 30-meter head start.
You’d think even with that advantage, a sprinter of Gay’s caliber would catch him in a flash. But guess what? Shaq actually held his own, crossing the 30-meter mark in 4.86 seconds. Gay finished his full 60 meters in 6.08 seconds.
Of course, Father Time has done his thing, but who’s to say Big Diesel couldn’t get back some of that speed with a little training? And let’s not ignore the biggest advantage Shaq has—his sheer power. Remember when he once admitted he “would have knocked [Charles Barkley’s] f**king head off” had he landed a punch during their fight?
That kind of confidence isn’t just for show. If this hypothetical fight ever happens, Gronk might want to reconsider skipping training. But don’t get it mixed up, the two stars actually share a close bond.
How did the whole thing for a fight between Shaquille O’Neal and Rob Gronkowski start?
Imagine Shaquille O’Neal and Rob Gronkowski stepping into a boxing ring—sounds wild, right? Well, that’s exactly what they teased during an interview at the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing event last year. The two sports icons didn’t just talk about their own potential fight; they also floated the idea of NBA players taking on NFL players in the future.
Speaking to Jasamine Banks for Netflix, Shaq, and Gronk seemed to agree on squaring off. And if that wasn’t enough, the 4x NBA champion revealed a bigger plan—an entire competition where basketball and football players go head-to-head in multiple athletic challenges, including boxing and fighting.
“Me and Gronk are gonna put together NBA vs. NFL,” Shaq said. “Coming soon. I’m talking about boxing, fighting, football, basketball. … I just thought about it because me and Gronk have been good friends, and he challenged me to a fight. I’d say okay.”
With celebrity boxing on the rise—thanks to stars like Jake and Logan Paul—this matchup could be more than just talk. Former NBA players like Nate Robinson and Deron Williams have already stepped into the ring, so could this be the next big showdown? There’s no doubt that fans will definitely be watching to see if Shaq vs. Gronk actually happens! Especially with the hype these two keep building around it.
The post “Slower Than An Ant”: Rob Gronkowski Knocks Out Shaquille O’Neal Before NBA vs NFL Match With Brutal Trash Talk appeared first on EssentiallySports.
