The debate around this years’ Defensive Player of the Year Award is hot. While some believe that the award should go to Victor Wembanyama, some lean towards Bam Adebayo. However, there are many who place their faith in 3x Defensive Player of the Year winner, Rudy Gobert. Meanwhile, Shaquille O’Neal dismissed Gobert as his top choice, even agreeing on him being overrated. Shaq, however, still believes that there is one feat that could impress him.

“You want to impress me? Hold Joker under 15 points, now you playing,” said Shaq on an episode of ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq’. This came after O’Neal thanked Mario Chalmers on the podcast for calling Rudy Gobert out as an overrated defensive player. “I didn’t think he was a great defensive player either… See what it is, is there is not a lot of centers that are making him play defense like, he not doing that against Joker,” the President of the ‘Big Man Alliance’ said.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend further stated that Rudy is 7’6″, so it is obvious that if one does a lay up, he is going to block it. “All that weak side blocking shop, that is cool, but it ain’t going to work against guys like me and Joker and Embiid,” Shaq explained further.

It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time that Shaq has discredited Rudy Gobert’s defensive abilities.

A look back into Shaquille O’Neal-Rudy Gobert dynamics over the years

It all started when the Frenchman did not make it to the NBA All-Star team in 2019. When Gobert got emotional about not being selected, Shaq had taken a dig at Rudy. He stated that the Stifle Tower needs to man up. “There is no crying in basketball… I remember when I made it fifteen years in a row and the last year I didn’t make it, I guess I wasn’t good enough. But that’s not something to cry about … Man up, put some icy hot on your face,” Shaq had stated.

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Almost two years down the line, Shaquille O’Neal had yet again taken a swipe at Gobert. He mentioned that considering Rudy’s offensive limitations, his contract amount was high. “I’m not gonna hate, but this should be an inspiration to all the little kids out there. You average 11 points in the NBA, you can get $200 million,” he said back then. However, Rudy Gobert had disregarded any beef between the two players, but he did finally break his silence in 2022.

When Shaq had stated that Gobert could hold him for three minutes at best, the 3x Defensive Player of the Year had replied with, “I would lock his as* up”. Now, Shaquille O’Neal has issued a fresh challenge for the defender with the name of Nikola Jokic. It’ll be interesting to see if Gobert takes up this challenge and actually manages to hold Jokic under 15 points.

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