After “Superman” Debate, Shaquille O’Neal Posts Footage of Dwight Howard Being Outplayed by School Player

In the world of Basketball, nicknames can become legacies. But what happens when two players lay claim to the same moniker? The “Superman” debate between NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard has been going on for decades. Just when you would think the dust settled, the two find themselves in a new row over the matter.

Surprisingly, the juice originally didn’t originate from the 7-foot-1 former center’s social media account. Another young college basketball player by the name of Middy Mal posted a video on his Instagram with the caption “My Grandkids will hear about this day.”

In the video, Howard can be seen making his way with the ball to score a point. In a split second, the young 9x Men’s League Champion takes the ball from the former NBA Champion and proceeds to the opposite side of the court to score a basket.

With Howard’s disappointed face next, came Shaq’s not-so-unexpected move.

The 4x champion took to his Instagram to share this particular video on his story. Not so surprising, considering it was only days ago that Shaq and Howard were at it again.

“Superman bringing us the show,” Howard, in a collaboration post with the Asian Tournament, had shared a post of him dunking with the caption. Soon after came Shaq’s reply. “Superman is at home on the throne with four rings. don’t compare me to no one i rather not be mentioned im offended,” he commented. 

The Big Diesel had always been referred to as the “Superman” in the NBA for his huge figure and elite playing skills. But the name split during the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk contest when Howard — unaware of Shaq’s association with the name — was seen donning a Superman t-shirt and a red cap. But that wasn’t enough for the moniker. His impressive leap during the contest had Kenny Smith give him the tag in the moment. Thus began a decade-long debate.

However, did you know that Howard once no longer wanted his “Superman” title?

Dwight Howard once looked to a new moniker instead of “Superman”

The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year once expressed his desire to distance himself from his iconic “Superman” nickname. The moniker, which was once a symbol of his dominance on the court, has seemingly lost its appeal for the veteran center.

In an interview as per Complex,  Howard explained that he feels the nickname no longer accurately reflects his current career trajectory. He also wanted to end the feud that was going on with Shaq for a long time regarding the nickname. However, he had a different nickname in mind, which was “Iron Man”.

His new choice for a nickname was again a big blow for him since it was already given to the Los Angeles Lakers legend A.C. Green, who had played in 1192 games in over 16 seasons. It seems like the 6-foot-10 center didn’t choose the nickname after all. As Howard continues to navigate his basketball journey beyond NBA, it remains to be seen how he will be remembered.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.