Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert responded to Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal’s recent criticism, taking to X on Thursday to say, “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.”
O’Neal partnered with Complex to do a question-and-answer segment with his son that was posted Wednesday. O’Neal’s son asked his father who the worst NBA player of all time was. Without hesitation, O’Neal responded, “Oh, Rudy Gobert.”
“Oh, my God. I knew you were going to say Rudy Gobert,” his son said while laughing.
O’Neal, who made $286,344,668 over his 19-season career, took issue with Gobert’s financial compensation in relation to his level of performance on the court.
“If you sign a contract for $250,000, show me $250,000,” O’Neal said. “There’s a reason why I walk funny, why I can’t turn my neck and why I can’t do it. Because I played for about $120,000. You got guys like him who f— the system over. They’re making all this money and they can’t f—— play. So, I don’t respect guys like that.
“Every time I make these comments, people think I’m hating but these are facts. You got teachers, you got firemen, you got doctors who have real jobs and don’t get paid s—.”
Gobert signed a five-year, $205,000,000 max veteran extension spanning from 2021 to 2025 and will make $43,827,587 this upcoming season. At the time of his extension in 2020, Gobert’s contract was the largest in NBA history for a center.
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has averaged 14.3 points, 13 rebounds and 1.9 rebounds on 67.6 percent shooting over three seasons since signing his extension. Gobert was an integral piece for the Timberwolves this postseason, helping lead Minnesota to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
