NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has by no means been afraid to let basketball followers understand how he feels in relation to sure groups and players. During a latest interview with Complex, the Hall of Fame huge man was requested who he thought was the worst NBA participant of all time.
Shaq did not mince phrases about his reply: Minnesota Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert.
“If you sign a contract for 250 [million], show me 250,” he mentioned. “There’s a reason why I walk funny, why I can’t turn my neck and why I can’t do it is because I played for my 120 [million]. You got guys like him that f— the system over and they’re making all this money and they can’t f—ing play. I don’t respect guys like that.”
O’Neal was additionally certain to get in a jab on Brooklyn Nets ahead Ben Simmons as he known as Simmons “another bum.” Gobert is at the moment coming into the fourth season of a five-year, $205 million deal he initially signed with the Utah Jazz, whereas Ben Simmons is wrapping up a $177 million contract this season.
During an look on USA Today’s “Sports Seriously” on Friday, O’Neal doubled down on his feedback, and needs his unique take to function motivation for Gobert and Simmons.
“It’s also personal motivation,” O’Neal mentioned. “So now Rudy and Ben: Show me what you got. See, like, people don’t understand the things I’m saying now on TV, it’s the same things I said to my players as a leader. Young man … you’re getting paid $20 million, you ain’t doing nothing. Step your game up. The outsiders that what we know, they’re like ‘oh, he’s hating.’ No, I’m not hating. I’m telling you the truth. And if you don’t like the truth, that’s something you got to deal with. So now, it’s out there. It’s viral. So show me what you’re going to do, Rudy and Ben. Shut me up.”
Meanwhile, Gobert responded to O’Neal feedback on Thursday.
“It is sad to see someone that has accomplished as much as you did @SHAQ both in sport and business still be triggered by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant,” Gobert wrote on social media.
It’s an fascinating take from O’Neal contemplating Gobert has achieved fairly a bit throughout his NBA profession. Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-Star and a seven-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team throughout his time with the Utah Jazz and Timberwolves.
Gobert is coming off of a season through which he averaged 14.0 factors and 12.9 rebounds with the Timberwolves. The French native’s 12.9 rebounds per contest have been the second-highest common in all the league, solely trailing Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis (13.7).
