TITLE: Dwight Howard Says Rift With Shaquille O’Neal Is Finally Over
SLUG: dwight-howard-shaquille-oneal-end-feud
CONTENT:
Dwight Howard confirmed that his long-running feud with fellow Los Angeles Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal has come to an end, saying both men have decided to “let bygones be bygones.”
Speaking with journalist Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the eight-time All-Star explained that the bad blood, which stretched from their playing days into retirement, was genuine but no longer relevant. “I don’t think none of it was for cameras,” Howard said. “My time in the NBA is over. We’ve got the same jacket—we’re in the Hall of Fame—so we just have to respect each other.”
The tension reportedly began when Howard adopted the “Superman” nickname that O’Neal had popularized earlier in his career. Over the years, O’Neal regularly criticized the younger center, and Howard once challenged him to a fight on social media. According to Howard, the two recently spoke directly and cleared the air.
That conversation led to O’Neal agreeing to help induct Howard into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Howard said he now fully respects O’Neal’s legacy and emphasized that any animosity is strictly in the past.
The 2020 NBA championship with the Lakers remains a highlight for Howard, who called the title “the cherry on top” of his 18-season career.
Source: Lakers Nation
