Dwight Howard Wants Legendary Trio To Walk Him Into The Hall Of Fame—One Name Will Shock You

Dwight Howard is headed to Springfield, and he wants to be escorted by a trio of legendary big men—including the one he’s spent over a decade feuding with.

Fresh off his induction into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, Howard was officially announced as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The 8-time All-Star, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, and 2020 NBA champion took to social media to share his gratitude—and made a surprising request: 

“I want KG, Shaq, and Kareem to walk me out #HOF.”

While the selections of Kevin Garnett and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar make perfect sense as symbolic mentors and basketball titans, it’s the inclusion of Shaquille O’Neal that raised eyebrows. 

For years, Howard and O’Neal have had a public and at times petty feud, largely stemming from Howard being dubbed “Superman”—a nickname O’Neal famously claimed as his own during his playing days. Howard’s 2008 dunk contest performance, complete with a Superman cape, triggered the rift that would later balloon into years of shots traded across interviews, social media, and podcasts.

Shaq never quite let it go. He dismissed Howard’s 2020 championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, calling him a “bus rider,” and repeatedly claimed Howard needed to win more titles to be compared to him. 

In turn, Howard has often tried to extend an olive branch. He even invited Shaq onto his podcast last year, a request that went unanswered.

However, in a rare moment of what many fans are calling a breakthrough, Shaq recently reposted the ESPN Hall of Fame announcement for Dwight Howard on his Instagram story, followed by a career highlight reel of Howard’s best plays. It wasn’t a direct message of reconciliation, but it was the first public gesture of acknowledgment from the Big Aristotle—and fans instantly took notice.