Rudy Gobert reacts after Shaq calls him worst player of all time

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Rudy Gobert fires back after Shaq calls him the worst NBA player of all time

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Sep 5, 2024 6:47 PM ET

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has opinions. Strong opinions. He has made a post-playing career out of those opinions as an analyst on TNT's "Inside The NBA" and pretty much anytime he has a microphone or camera in front of him. People love it. This past week, he delivered a scathing criticism of Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during an appearance on Complex's podcast.

On Thursday, Gobert fired back.

O'Neal was asked about the worst player in NBA history, and he immediately turned his attention to Gobert and said that if a player signs for $250 million, they have to give $250 million worth of play and work. (Gobert's contract is actually worth $205 million.)

Gobert responded on social media site X on Thursday.

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. https://t.co/KPHs2VmfIb
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) September 5, 2024

Even if Shaq does not like the way Gobert plays or has questions about his effort or value, it is still a pretty outrageous take to say he is the worst NBA player ever. It is hyperbole to the extreme. Because he is clearly not the worst player in the NBA. He has played at a high level in the league for more than a decade and is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner, including this past season.

He is objectively good. Very good. How good is certainly up for some level of debate, but you do not play that long and win that much individual hardware by being bad.

There is also a difference between being overpaid, disappointed, overrated or underwhelming as opposed to being bad. Or the worst player in NBA history. Those are very different things.

But these are the kind of hot takes that get attention and make the general public laugh. It got Gobert's attention. He certainly was not laughing about it.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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