Rudy Gobert has been one of the most impactful big men in the past two decades. One of his biggest critics is three-time Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal, who continues to fire shots at Gobert. This is nothing new, as O'Neal has never liked Gobert and his play style.
Rudy Gobert Receives Fiery Shots From Shaquille O'Neal Again originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Rudy Gobert has been one of the most impactful big men in the past two decades. He has four Defensive Player of the Year awards on his mantle, but he continues to come under fire with criticisms from all angles. One of his biggest critics is three-time Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal, who continues to fire shots at Gobert.
This is nothing new, as O'Neal has never liked Gobert and his play style. Shaq values offensive dominance than most, and Gobert is primarily focused on being a fantastic defender. The Frenchman is limited on the offensive end, but he knows his strengths and utilizes them effectively.
Gobert entered the NBA in 2013 as the 27th overall pick by the Utah Jazz. It was a fantastic decision by Utah, as they selected a player who would lead them to their most successful era after Karl Malone and John Stockton retired. Unfortunately, that came to an end when the Jazz traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
His impact has been similar, as he won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award with the Timberwolves. They have been fantastic in recent years, as Minnesota reached the Western Conference Finals twice in the past two seasons. While Anthony Edwards is the star player, the Timberwolves know Gobert is a significant part of their success.
O'Neal Continues To Be Gobert's Biggest Hater
Over the years, Gobert has received criticism. Some of them are warranted, including his struggles as an offensive player. He struggles to generate offense for himself, so he is pretty limited. That has taken away from his game and has led to people criticizing him for being a one-dimensional player.
O'Neal has been a vocal critic for years. Sometimes, he is valid with his criticism, but he tends to go overboard. Known for some bombastic moments on live television, O'Neal has taken it up a notch with his latest viral moment regarding Gobert.
"Rudy Gobert is dominating"
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 1, 2025
Shaq never thought he'd say these words 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Epd9QrdUTp
"I f*****g hate Rudy Gobert. He's making $250 million, he doesn't deserve it, dawg. As the president of the Big Man Alliance, you're making big money, play like a f*****g big man. That's it," O'Neal said on his The Big Podcast. "Grow some balls, knock some people out. Don't let little white dudes from Denver dunk on you and talk s**t... Come on, bro. That's it."
Gobert Will Keep Playing His Game
Despite all the criticism, Gobert has focused on his game. He does not want to get involved in petty feuds like Dwight Howard had with O'Neal back in the day. Gobert will fire back at times, but he will let his game do the talking on the court.
5 minutes of Rudy Gobert clutch defense pic.twitter.com/KhFS7VE2Ur
— Pitless (@pitlessball) March 8, 2025
The Frenchman's style might not be to their liking, but he will continue as the defensive pillar for the Timberwolves. They are primed to compete in the highest level of the Western Conference, so he won't have the time to keep responding to O'Neal.
In the meantime, the Timberwolves are ready to keep developing and proving themselves. They are one of the best teams in the league, and the 2025-26 season could be a significant campaign for them.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
