Shaquille O’Neal Goes Off on Rudy Gobert for Earning Over $250 Million

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 3:35 PM ET

With every passing year, NBA salaries keep shooting through the roof. Not that long ago, a $70 million contract used to be headline-worthy for a star player’s entire career; now that’s what stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are about to make in just one season.

While some players are absolutely worth those monster paydays, Shaquille O’Neal thinks there are a few who definitely aren’t, and Shaq never bites his tongue. This time, he’s taking aim at Rudy Gobert’s massive earnings, going off about how the big man’s bank account doesn’t exactly match up with what he brings to the court.

“When I am watching him (Gobert) play, he don’t work that hard," Shaq said on the "Off the Record" podcast with hosts Bailey Jackson and Lachelle Smith. "So why are you making 250 [million]? Congratulations to Shai; that is what $70 million looks like. Right now he’s (Gobert) showing me $250,000. I don’t care if he likes it. If I was on his team, I would say that to his face.”

Shaq didn’t stop there; he also added that guys like Gobert are the reason the center position just isn’t what it used to be.

According to Spotrac, Gobert has made over $300 million in career earnings in 12 NBA seasons. He has three years and $110 million left on his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In Shaq's eyes, most big men in the league today are soft, with one big exception: Nikola Jokic. Shaq made it clear he’s got tons of respect for the Joker. He even pointed to the current All-Star lists, saying there’s barely any true centers these days compared to when he was dominating the paint.

For Shaq, it’s proof that the big man game has lost its edge and players like Gobert cashing massive checks aren’t helping.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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