Former Lakers Star Shaquille O’Neal on NBA All-Star: ‘I F---ing Hate’ Him

"I f---ing hate Rudy Gobert," O'Neal revealed, surprising absolutely no one who has paid attention to O'Neal's criticisms of Gobert throughout the four-time Defensive Player of the Year's entire career.

Gobert, drafted in 2013, never overlapped with O'Neal, but O'Neal has always taken umbrage with Gobert's reputation as one of the league's best players, despite the Timberwolves standout being fairly limited. He's an elite rim protector and rebounder, and pretty good at scoring in the low post, but his plodding foot speed makes him pretty solvable in the postseason for quality big men, he doesn't have much offense beyond the paint, and he rarely looks to score aside from putbacks and lobs.

"Motherf---er's making $250 million," O'Neal told Marcus Morris. "He don't deserve it, dog. F--- that. As the president of the big man alliance, you're making big money, play like a f---ing big man. That's it. Play like a f---ing big man."

Across his 12-year career, the 33-year-old has already made $261 million just on the court. Gobert is currently in the first season of a three-year, $109.5 million contract extension he inked with Minnesota last fall. He had previously been on a five-season, $205 million deal with the franchise.

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O'Neal offered up his prescription for how Gobert can build out his game defensively.

"Throw some bows, knock some people out, don't be afraid of letting little white dudes from Denver dunk on you and talk s--- to you, then you've got to grab them by the neck at the last second," O'Neal said. "Come on, bro. That's it. If you're going to f---ing get paid big money, play big."

O'Neal is pretty clearly addressing this vicious November 1, 2024 Christian Braun slam dunk over Gobert, where the 7-foot-1 Frenchman offered minimal resistance during the play but appeared to get very upset after Braun had already scored.

"If Rudy Gobert gets into the Hall of Fame, I'll wear this dress to the motherf---ing ceremony, okay?" O'Neal joked, holding up a picture of "Inside The NBA" cohost Barkley in a black dress and wig.

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