‘I f***ing hate him’: NBA legend takes fiery feud to new heights

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has delivered a savage swipe as he poured fuel all over a long-running feud with a current player.

Shaquille O’Neal’s longstanding feud with Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert took an even more drastic twist Thursday.

The NBA Hall of Famer has traded barbs with Gobert for years, but this time it got personal, the NY Post reports.

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“I f***ing hate Rudy Gobert,” said O’Neal on his podcast The Big Podcast with Shaq.

“Because that motherf***er making $250 million, (and) he don’t deserve it, dawg. F*** that.

“As the president of The Big Man Alliance, you making big money, play like a f***ing big man. That’s it.

“Throw some (elbows), knock some people out, don’t be letting little white dudes from Denver dunk on you and talk sh*t to you.”

Rudy Gobert has found himself on the receiving end of criticism from Shaq. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The legendary big man isn’t a fan of Gobert and the money he’s making. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Gobert, a four-time defensive player of the year, has averaged 11.7 rebounds, 12.6 points, 2.1 blocks and 0.7 steals per game in his 12-year career.

O’Neal is hoping those accomplishments aren’t enough to make the two Hall of Fame counterparts.

“If Rudy Gobert gets into the Hall of Fame, I’ll wear this dress to the motherf***ing ceremony,” said O’Neal while holding up a picture of Charles Barkley wearing a dress in a WeightWatchers commercial.

O’Neal has targeted Gobert since at least 2021, when he made fun of his lack of offensive ability.

“I’m not gonna hate, but this should be an inspiration to all the little kids out there,” O’Neal said.

“You average 11 points in the NBA, you can get $200 million.”

His opinion of Gobert is so low that he even had rival Draymond Green’s back when Green was suspended for putting Gobert in a headlock in 2023.

Last season, O’Neal told Complex that Gobert was the worst NBA player of all time, along with Ben Simmons, whom he called “another bum.”

Gobert responded to that diss on social media.

“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,” Gobert said. “I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant.”

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as ‘I f***ing hate him’: NBA legend takes fiery feud to new heights