Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has faced criticism from Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who took aim at him after Gobert signed a five-year, $205 million contract. During an episode of the “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Carmelo Anthony weighed in on the dispute.
“I wish they would (see Shaq),” Anthony remarked. “With that being said, they don’t want to because they don’t feel like there’s any relevancy between Shaq’s game and the game today. So nobody is saying go see Shaq. They’re going to say, hey go see T-Mac, like go see this guy, go see Melo, like they ain’t like go see Shaq.”
O’Neal’s criticisms of Gobert revolve around several factors, including his perceived lack of dominance, offensive skills, and his hefty salary. Initially, these critiques seemed constructive, as seen when O’Neal called out Donovan Mitchell during his time with Gobert on the Utah Jazz, leading to an awkward exchange.
While O’Neal employs a tough-love approach, his criticism can sometimes feel overly harsh. He has historically challenged players like Penny Hardaway and Kobe Bryant, and while this generation may be different, his comments can come across as personal attacks.
Anthony recognized the complexities of the situation: “Now that’s the unfortunate part right, what I’m saying to your point is if they did reach out to him and incorporate him into training and giving back to the game from that standpoint,” he noted. “He does give back to the game a lot but from that standpoint these young —— ain’t going to want to say, ‘yo Shaq come teach me.’ I wanted Shaq.”
In response to O’Neal’s remarks, Gobert labeled them as ‘sad.’ A four-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time NBA All-Star, Gobert’s accolades are significant. Amidst the ongoing feud, Anthony had a clear message for Shaq: “Yo Shaq, Champ, leave Rudy the f**k alone man,” he said. “Come on bro like stall him out man, stall the guy out, man. You know, Sacré bleu, and all this.”
As the Timberwolves approach the season opener, the tension between Shaq and Gobert could continue as long as O’Neal chooses to engage.
