“DPOY, but every scouting report I’m looking at, they are targeting you.” Shaquille O’Neal has been quite vocal about his issues with Rudy Gobert. The fact Shaq termed Rudy as the Worst Player of All Time (WOAT) during his appearance on Complex speaks volumes about his disliking for the 4x DPOY. Now, while Dwight Howard recently praised Gobert and wished him luck for the upcoming season, D12, too, seems to have sided with Shaq in his criticism against the 4x DPOY.

During Jeanie Buss’ recent appearance on Above The Rim podcast, the LA Lakers owner and podcast host Dwight Howard got to talking about the time when the COVID pandemic led to the NBA shutdown. And yes, Howard has placed the blame on Gobert, but seemingly all in good humor. “It was really Rudy Gobert’s fault,” Howard joked. “Rudy, you are the defensive player of the decade because you had COVID, and you touched all the mics in the interview, and you made the whole world shut down.” 

The former LA Lakers star’s comment refers to a widely criticized incident when Gobert jokingly touched reporters’ microphones and phones during a press conference. And that too just days before testing positive for the virus.

Not only the video went viral, but Gobert became the first NBA player to contract COVID-19. Thus prompting the suspension of the 2020 NBA season. The now-infamous footage, captured by CBS affiliate KUTV, showed the 3x All-Star playfully touching the media’s equipment, making light of the situation. His positive test result came out just before a scheduled game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, leading to the game’s abrupt cancellation.

Not only did Gobert’s actions affect the NBA, but his own teammates were impacted as well. Just a day later, Jazz star Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for the virus. And according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, even some Jazz players privately expressed concerns about Gobert’s careless behavior. This included touching other players’ belongings in the locker room.

Rudy Gobert’s response to his much-criticized action

The then-Utah Jazz star broke his silence regarding the incident that brought him widespread criticism after his COVID-19 diagnosis. He opened up on Instagram, sharing the emotions he went through, including fear, anxiety, and embarrassment. He publicly apologized for his actions, admitting his carelessness.

“The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse.” His post further expressed his hope that his situation would serve as a warning, urging people to take the virus seriously. However, the criticism that followed his actions didn’t fade away easily.

Even nine months later, Gobert was still explaining his intent. In an interview with ESPN, he reflected on the situation and his actions, which he said came from a good place. “It came from a good intention,” Gobert explained. He recalled the first day when media access to players was restricted, saying that he didn’t know as much about the virus at the time and was simply trying to lighten the mood.

“If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t do it,” he admitted. But it seems whenever the discussion regarding COVID’s impact on the NBA comes up, Rudy Gobert will also be brought up. However, Dwight Howard shouldn’t entirely be complaining since he won his first and only NBA championship in the bubble.

Stay tuned for more updates. 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.