Shaquille O’Neal Brutally Named NBA Star He Doesn’t ‘Respect’ as the Worst of All Time

Former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat star Shaquille O’Neal once delivered a brutal put-down of the NBA star he claimed was the absolute ‘worst player’ in the league’s history. O’Neal was one of the most dominant players ever to take to the court, winning four championship rings in his career while redefining what it meant to be a bully in the paint.

The legendary centre has also never been one to mince his words, whether during interviews or in his analysis for TNT. And the 53-year-old didn’t hold anything back while explaining why he believes a current NBA player is the worst there has ever been.

O’Neal Named Rudy Gobert as Worst Ever NBA Player

The former Cleveland Cavalier also singled out one other star

In a fiery segment for Complex, O’Neal joined his son Myles for a wide-ranging conversation — one that quickly turned controversial when the topic shifted to basketball’s best and worst.

During the interview, Myles posed the question of who is dad thought was the worst NBA player ever. In response, ‘Shaq’ didn’t hesitate, directly naming Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. The Hall of Famer went on a tirade against the Frenchman, criticising what he sees as an inflated contract with underwhelming performance.

Explaining his frustration, the four-time champion said:“

If you sign a contract for 250 [million]. Show me 250 [million]. There’s a reason why I walk funny, why I can’t turn my neck and why I can’t do it – because I played for my 120 [million]. So, you got guys like him that f** the system – over there making all this money and they can’t f**ing play. So I don’t respect guys like that.

“Every time I make these comments, people think I’m hating, but these are facts. You got teachers, you got firemen, you got doctors who have real jobs and don’t get paid s**t.”

Shaq named his pick for the Worst NBA Player of All Time… 😶 pic.twitter.com/tsEqJFl2qP — Complex (@Complex) September 4, 2024

Gobert, currently on a five-year, $250 million deal with Minnesota after a blockbuster trade from Utah in 2022, wasn’t about to stay silent. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the French star fired back at Shaq by saying: “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 was not the only man that O’Neal had some harsh words for, as he also singled out former Los Angeles Clipper star Ben Simmons for being “another bum.”