?I Never Wanted to Be Like Shaq?: Years After Beef With Shaquille O?Neal, Former NBA Champion Gives Him the Cold Truth

Former NBA champion Dwight Howard has had a long-time history of beefing with NBA legend Shaquille O?Neal. But it arguably wasn?t Howard beefing with O?Neal as much as it was O?Neal ripping on Howard from time to time. The two had been known to take jabs at each other during Shaq?s playing days and that continued even after Shaq retired.?

O?Neal and Howard have had pretty similar career starts. Both players were the number one overall pick in the draft by the Orlando Magic. Both players became the centerpieces of the team. And both players went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant.?

Shaquille O’Neal was not happy with Dwight Howard being ‘Superman’

But the beef started with who gets the ?Superman? title. Shaq has been referred to as ‘Superman’ throughout his career. It goes to the point that O?Neal even has a tattoo of the ‘Superman’ logo on his arm.?

Although Shaq and Howard had no beef during the start. The two even had a dance-off at one of the All-Star games as well. It all started when Dwight Howard portrayed the ‘Superman’ persona in a dunk contest in 2008. Howard pulled out all the stops, with the cape and everything. And that is where the comparisons began.

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Fans started referring to Howard as ‘Superman’ as well, and the two ‘Supermen’ were often compared to each other. Shaq was not happy that Howard kind of stole his persona and slammed back by saying, ?He has to do something first to be called ‘Superman’. Anyone can win the slam dunk contest.?

After years of going at each other, Howard finally opened up about his beef with Shaq on the show ?All The Smoke? with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes. Howard said, ?I never had no issues with Shaq. I never wanted to be like Shaq. I enjoy watching Shaq do what he do. I think he’s the most dominant player to ever play.?

Howard was a Shaq fan growing up

Howard added, ?I remember in the 11th grade watching him play against Dikembe Mutombo in the finals. Like catching it every time, an elbow to the chest, turn around, and dunk on him, every time. And I?m like, ‘Yo this is crazy'”.?

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Howard was clearly a fan of Shaquille O?Neal. In fact, the first time Dwight Howard faced off with Shaquille O?Neal while he was playing for the Miami Heat, Shaq ended up giving him advice as well.?

While talking to Barnes and Jackson, he jokingly challenged O?Neal to a roasting challenge.?

What do you think about the beef between Shaq and Howard? Share your thoughts in the comments below.?