The battle of the Superman Big Men has turned into a squabble of the Mr. Sensitives. Between arguing with Dwight Howard on X again and returning on TNT Tuesday, Shaquille O’Neal was on The Big Podcast, making indirect jabs at him who shall not be named. O’Neal offered (or threatened) to dismantle the Big Man Alliance not as a peace offering, but because he believes certain people on the fringes of his exclusive club “get sensitive.” However, there’s no way Shaq’s sticking to that promise.

For the first Big Podcast of 2025, Shaquille O’Neal hosted NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who told him to keep TNT’s brand alive. A big part of that is Shaq’s commentary on big men. Later in the show, O’Neal sought Adam Lefkoe’s input on whether he should completely stop talking about big men.

Shaq said he wouldn’t talk badly about Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, or Victor Wembanyama anymore. Lefkoe tried to dodge the subject but ultimately suggested Shaq could put a positive spin on his motivational tactics. O’Neal flatly refused. “Nah, I’m done,” he told Lefkoe. “You got people wanting to fight a senior citizen…” Now where have we heard that before?

O’Neal started off the New Year with another multi-front feud with Dwight Howard. Across podcasts and social media messages, he told Howard he was too old and experienced to pick a fight and the other was trying to keep his new media career relevant using Shaq. Since Dwight also accused Shaq of using his name, O’Neal claims he’ll stop talking about Big Men altogether.

“I’mma have to turn it over,” he said about the Big Man Alliance but instantly changed his mind. “I’m taking it with me. Big Man Alliance is no more.” 

He’s turned it into a secret society and the only way to get in is the code word – 2Pac’s “Hail Mary.” But is the Shaq-led Big Man Alliance truly over? Nah!

The Big Man Alliance returned instantly

Shaquille O’Neal did reference the 1978 Superman movie where the Man of Steel returns to the Fortress of Solitude in the North Pole to ‘restore process.’ Shaq implied he could restore his old ways anytime. And it didn’t take long to do so.

TNT Tuesday returned this week with Shaq, Lefkoe, Vince Carter, and Jalen Rose filling in for Candace Parker. It’s also when they introduced a new segment, the Big Man Alliance Championship Belt. The current holder of the belt is Nikola Jokic, who Shaq said didn’t deserve MVP last season and triggered more than a few people. Shaq was on a different tune this time. He admitted Jokic is the “best,” and it’s challenging for anyone to steal the title from him.

This TNT Tuesday show was live right after Shaq and Lefkoe recorded The Big Podcast. And there are clear signs the Big Man Alliance is here to stay (credits to Lefkoe and TNT for that).

O’Neal claimed his critiques under the Big Man banner are misunderstood as hate. So maybe he’d tone it down. But his New Year resolution is directed at a certain someone – “You don’t want me to say your name no more, you’re dead to me.” 

Let’s see how long he sticks to that.