Dwight Howard Gets Real On His Feud With Shaquille O'Neal: 'It Was Just Sibling Rivalries...'

When Dwight Howard took the podium for a speech at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, he addressed a familiar name who also happens to be one of the greatest players ever: Shaquille O'Neal. The two have a long and complicated history, but Howard put the rivalry to rest once and for all by claiming their rivalry was nothing more than tough love.

"Shaq, we did not always see eye to eye, but in hindsight, I believe it was just sibling rivalries," said Howard. "We are brothers in this fraternity of basketball, and sometimes brothers fight over the stupidest stuff. I really blame Soulja Boy. But I just want y’all to know the true, original Superman is in the building, and it’s an honor to have you walk me out in this arena of greatness.”

Dwight Howard was one of the last truly dominant traditional centers, and his game was comparable to O'Neal's. While he didn't have the same size or power as Shaq, Dwight's athleticism closed the gap, and he was at the center of one of the best stretches in Orlando Magic history.

His cold war with Shaq stems from the 2008 dunk contest, when he donned a cape and the signature Supman logo for one of his acts. As the original NBA Superman, Shaq assumed that Howard got the nickname from him, but it was actually inspired by Soulja Boy's song of the same name.

Regardless of where he got it, it sparked resentment in Shaq that led to years of brutal comments and bitterness between the bigs. They went back and forth for a long time, and O'Neal used any chance he got to strike back against the guy he believed was trying to usurp his legacy.

Besides insulting his game, O'Neal claimed Howard wasn't a Hall of Famer and even mocked him during his stint in Taiwan for having a losing record. He also sent him nasty messages on social media at the height of their beef and called Dwight a "bus rider" for his part in the Lakers' 2020 title run. In return. Howard accused Shaq of being a liar while claiming he was the "fake Superman." At one point, he even challenged Shaq to a boxing match before the Diesel declined due to Dwight only having one ring.

Needless to say, things got pretty ugly between the two, but their relationship has since drastically improved. They reconciled in April and finally made up after a personal conversation that set the record straight. They cleared the air, and Shaq agreed to attend Dwight's Hall of Fame ceremony.

It's been peace and respect ever since between the NBA legends, and Shaq followed through on his promise by being on stage at Dwight's enshrinement today. It's good to see them so close, and you have to appreciate how they've let go of the past to support each other in a way we never thought possible.

By honoring Shaquille O’Neal as the “true, original Superman,” Howard put a final bow on one of the NBA’s pettiest feuds and showed that even the fiercest rivalries can turn into brotherhood. For fans who watched the drama unfold for over a decade, the moment marked a fitting end to the beef and a celebration of two of the most dominant big men the game has ever seen.