In 2009, Dwight Howard walked into the NBA Finals as the league’s most dominant big man, with Shaquille O’Neal – his fiercest critic – lurking in every postgame headline. Now, nearly two decades and one ring later, Howard’s on the cusp of basketball immortality. But as he prepares for the Hall of Fame stage, the question is, who will walk him in? Surprisingly, he wants Shaq. Or, failing that, a former Warriors coach no one saw coming.

Eight All-Star selections. Three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Five All-NBA First Team nods. All that has led Dwight Howard into the class of 2025 Hall of Fame as a first-ballot pick. Who does Superman want by his side to present the honor?

While on the Dan Patrick show, Dwight Howard was asked the same question. He responded, “Well, I would love Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon, Elijah, and Shaquille O’Neal to walk me in. If it’s not Shaquille, if he can’t do it, Martin Jackson.” sharing a list of some of the most dominant big men to ever grace the hardwood to induct him into basketball immortality.

The mention of Shaquille O’Neal sounds like a long stretch coming from Dwight Howard. The two have had their issues in the past. It can come as no surprise if Shaq is not available to induct Dwight Howard into the Hall of Fame. Let us see why.

The longstanding feud between Shaq and Dwight Howard: Is a resolution possible?

Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard have been at each other’s throats for over a decade. It all began during the 2008 NBA All-Star Dunk Contest, where Dwight Howard adopted the “Superman” moniker. Shaquille O’Neal, instead of accepting the adoption as the moniker as an ode to him, but as an attempt to emulate him, which he construed as disrespectful.

Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal have engaged in a battle of words often on social media. With a recent escalation of the beef coming forward in 2025. Howard divulged that he had a mutual acquaintance arrange a real life conversation between the two last year. Nothing came to fruition, but Howard was of the impression that something had to happen along those lines. He said on the GAUDS Show, “Cause every time I hear or see something about you, it’s you disrespecting me on some type of level,” Howard said of O’Neal. “And at this point I’m like, ‘Do we need to throw hands?” speaking of a real-life confrontation.

To this Shaquille O’Neal responded on X, saying, “@DwightHoward the fact u think I care about u is funny, but I won’t ever bring your name up again, sensitive big man, a jokester that can’t take a joke, Won’t ever say your name again ever again. Have a great day and now u have been deleted. Have a great day.” further escalating the situation. 

To this Howard angrily responded, “I know you care. Cuz yo insecure ass been hating and talking s— for 20 years. You to big to be this insecure. I hope you don’t bring my name up again. 52 years old tweeting me. And still hating. Now all this time you was joking. … It’s 2025 grow the hell up. and move on.” However, there was aplot twist. Having cooled off, Dwight Howard wrote on X, the following day, “Btw I don’t want people get entertained by two black man going back and forth over petty stuff, I don’t want to bicker I just want to settle this like the two successful HOF black men we are! You the most dominant center of all time ! Come on to the podcast and let’s hash this out.” seemingly inviting Shaq to squash this beef once and for all. 

But Shaq responded with, “Nice move I see what you doing, your legacy is your new podcast that’s how u will be remembered and u need views” and, “Dam I taught you well, great job hall of fame podcaster. But still don’t care. You need the sit down, u need my validation, I don’t need yours, how will you be remembered, think about that podcast boy. I have a empire to run Now leave me son I been talking twenty years but u wanna squabble at 50 Well I decline I’m to old Again nice move Love u son.” seemingly killing all chances of a reconciliation.

From what we have seen, this saga seems to come to a screeching halt, but with Dwight Howards request of Shaq being one of the men top induct him into