Shaq Stays Silent As Lakers Super Fan Validates Dwight Howard’s Plea To Rob Pelinka: “Feel That Void”

Dwight Howard is quite the character. There have been a lot of narratives surrounding the veteran center, but no one will contest that the man is a beast. Having signed with the Taiwan Mustangs of The Asian Tournament on May 30, 2024, his dream of one final run with the NBA continues in full force. In fact, over a month ago, the Internet ran off with a viral tweet by Howard. And it was related to the Lakers.

After the Purple & Gold’s disappointing end in the playoffs against Denver, the ex-Laker reiterated his wish of wanting to play in Los Angeles. With a playful tone to his post, Howard wrote, “Lebron 39 I’m 38! I’m still in shape ya saying that was 3 years ago but I’m still in shape lol.” 

The age and staying in shape would be welcomed, but whether he can be a difference maker to a franchise looking to make some big changes is debatable. However, Shaquille O’Neal‘s guest for his latest episode in The Big Podcast, Ice Cube, believes Howard is just what the Lakers need. When Shaq’s co-host Adam Lefkoe asked Cube, being an LA superfan, what he thought of his beloved team’s state now, the popular rapper said right off the bat, “We need a big. I mean, a true big man.“

The BET Hip-Hop Award winner further explained that the Lakers’ 2020 title was devalued, calling it a “Mickey Mouse championship” and the like. Nonetheless, every team during the 2020 Orlando Bubble was battling for this so-called Mickey Mouse ring. Hence, Ice Cube says that it cannot simply be dismissed. However, he had a ‘but’ coming.

“At the end of the day, it was Dwight Howard in there, it was JaVale McGee. AD can only do so much. … I think you got to free them up a little bit. … And as you see, once we went up against Denver again, that’s what was the missing piece once again. So hopefully, they learn from that and feel that void,” he finished.

The last Dwight played was for Los Angeles during the 2021-22 season. The 8x All-Star’s history with the Purple & Gold was in three stints, in which the second one (2020) got him his only ring. Despite that, the 3x DPOY always kept a close eye on the team. Funny enough, when Ice Cube mentioned Dwight Howard, the camera immediately zoomed in on ‘The Big Diesel’. If you know, you know!

Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal – the tension is real!

From breaking several league and franchise records left and right in his rookie season to leading the Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009, Dwight Howard became a familiar name in the basketball community. But it was during the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest that he reached global recognition. It also happened to be the spark that started a long-standing feud between the former Lakers legend, O’Neal.

So the story is that Howard captivated the audience with some unreal dunks. And he did so wearing a Superman shirt and cape. Now, those Shaq fans will know that the big man had already claimed the “Superman” moniker as his own. Watching Howard in the middle of cheering fans and flashing lights, with his Superman persona, saw it as identity theft. And boy did they get into it!

From there, it continued on and on to this day. Dwight Howard had reached out to the ‘Big Aristotle’ a few times to put an end to their battle of wills and words. But it seems like the pair just can’t control the urge to speak out of turn when faced with each other. So, to watch the 4x champion sit stoically at the mention of Howard was quite surprising.

The fact that Ice Cube was praising the 5x All-NBA First Teamer for his contribution to the 2020 Lakers title and yet not even a hint of emotion from Shaq was certainly interesting and rather impressive. Particularly considering their latest exchange saw Dwight Howard saying that he was mad at Orlando Magic for retiring their first-ever jersey and it happened to be the “fake Superman” one! Howard even did a brilliant O’Neal impression down to the voice during The OGs podcast.

Well, what do you think of Ice Cube’s suggestion? And do you think O’Neal might finally have put an end to his and Howard’s beef? Or is he simply plotting the best way to get back at him? Let us know your thoughts below!

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about WNBA star rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.