If you’ve been a regular reader of this here ShaqFu Radio blog (and we know you are!), you know we’ve covered the story of Shaq’s relationship with another big man, Dwight Howard, for a long, long time. Here’s an interesting – and perhaps final – twist to it all…
For years, NBA fans believed there was real tension between two of the league’s most dominant big men—Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard. Both were No. 1 overall picks by the Orlando Magic, both redefined the center position with their power and athleticism, and both carried the franchise to an NBA Finals appearance before later joining forces with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers. And, of course, both laid claim to the “Superman” nickname.
From the outside, it looked like a long-running feud. Shaq often fired playful jabs in the press about Howard stepping on his turf as the league’s next great big man. Howard, meanwhile, seemed to bristle at the comparisons. The back-and-forth went on for years, convincing many fans that the relationship was icy at best.
But this weekend, the storyline flipped. When Dwight Howard was officially inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, it was none other than Shaquille O’Neal who stepped forward to present him. The moment shocked fans who thought the rivalry was real—but Shaq was quick to set the record straight.
Speaking with former Magic teammate and NBA TV broadcaster Dennis Scott, O’Neal explained:
“Why am I wearing this blazer? ’Cause I’m finally giving flowers to Mr. Dwight Howard. It’s big for him, it’s big for his family, it’s big for the Big Man Alliance, of which I am the reigning president. That’s right, me. I’m happy for him.”
Shaq went on to insist there was never genuine hostility. Instead, he described his approach as motivational. “It wasn’t that we had a problem,” O’Neal said. “You know my leadership style. I’m hard on guys to motivate them. Some people can take it, some people can’t. Whenever I made him angry, he played well.”
To see Howard’s HOF speech at his induction ceremony, click here!
The two recently reconnected in Orlando, sharing a meal and clearing the air. According to Shaq, that meeting made it clear there were no hard feelings.
Dwight Howard’s resume certainly deserved Hall of Fame recognition: eight All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and career averages of 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He was the defensive anchor of his era and one of the last traditional big men to dominate the paint.
For Shaq, presenting Howard wasn’t just about honoring a fellow center—it was about acknowledging legacy. In a way, it symbolized passing the torch from one generation of dominant big men to the next. Fans who once thought the Superman nickname was a wedge between them got to see a different picture: respect, admiration, and maybe even a little bit of brotherhood.
Big men, it seems, stick together.