Shaquille O'Neal ruffled feathers earlier with his criticism of Nikola Jokic winning NBA MVP over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Now Shaq finds himself in the midst of a back-and-forth with another high-profile sports analyst.
The "NBA on TNT" panelist is currently beefing with former NFL tight end-turned-analyst Shannon Sharpe. The pair have engaged in a war of words, with Sharpe using his podcast to bash O'Neal, while the big man took to Instagram to express his displeasure with his industry counterpart.
Here is everything to know about the ongoing feud between O'Neal and Sharpe.
MORE: Where Nikola Jokic's three MVP awards rank on all-time list
Shaquille O’Neal-Shannon Sharpe beef, explained
The feud between O'Neal and Sharpe started shortly after an awkward interview between the former and Jokic upon the Nuggets star's MVP win Wednesday night.
Sharpe called O'Neal "envious" of Jokic and his trio of MVP awards. Speaking on his podcast "The Nightcap" with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, Sharpe argued that O'Neal isn't in the conversation among NBA's greatest despite how dominant the five-time NBA champion was during his prime.
"Shaq should have five MVPs," Sharpe said. "He sees a guy like Nikola Jokic that's not as dominant as him get three in four years. When [you're] historically great, they talk about you as a great basketball player, the GOAT — and Shaq is never brought up. And I think a part of him is envious of that.
"It's hard for me to put somebody in the GOAT conversation with one MVP."
Sharpe also called out O'Neal for his work ethic, claiming that if the basketball player had the same drive as the former tight end did in the NFL, O'Neal would have had "40,000 points."
It's safe to say O'Neal did not take too kindly to Sharpe speaking on his career. The big man took to Instagram to bash the three-time Super Bowl champion, saying that Sharpe shouldn't be speaking about him since the tight end isn't considered a top-10 player in NFL history.
"You took me sticking up [for Shai] as jealousy of Joker," O'Neal said in his caption. "Shows how smart you are and how you say anything to get clicks. So, here’s some clickbait for you. If you ain’t ranked in the top ten in your profession, then you can’t speak on me. Don’t forget, I know what you did to get where you're at.
"Me jealous? Sounds like you're jealous. I know you're trying to stay relevant by gossiping on your podcast. We don’t believe you. You need more people and, in case you forgot, 4 rings, three finals MVPs, Top 50, and Top 75. Google me. To be quite frank, all this new success you got, you still under me. You don’t know my work ethic. But according (to you), I work less than you but I'm worth more than you. Make it make sense. Love you too. If you need help making money, it’s better ways than gossiping. I’m too old for this s—.
"Love always, the most dominant big man ever who never took it seriously. Remember, I don’t know you and in the words of Skip Bayless, I'm better than you. G14 Classification, I have it, you don’t, not in my profession. And your GOAT debate, never wanted to be the GOAT. I wanted to be who you should greet me as, THE MOST DOMINANT EVER."
MORE: Who is Shaq's new girlfriend? Relationship timeline for former NBA big man
Not only did Sharpe see the post from O'Neal, but fans were treated to a live reaction. He was in the midst of recording another episode of "The Nightcap" when he saw what his budding online rival had to say about him.
"I've never professed that I was greater than Shaq," Sharpe said. "But what I will say is I got what I got because I worked my a— off. Now Shaq has been the one to say it. That he didn't work as hard, that he didn't train as hard, he didn't eat as well as he should have. Shaq is the one that any time anyone wins MVP, he's the one that talks about how he should've been the MVP over Steve Nash.
"Now, you guys have heard me speak glowingly. I've said Travis Kelce is a better tight end than me. So was Gronk, so was ... Antonio Gates, [Tony Gonzalez], [Kellen Winslow]. I'm cool. I got no problem. You know why I have no problem, Ocho, with giving people credit? Because I got everything out of my God-given ability."
Sharpe underlined the fact that he doesn't believe he was the player in football that O'Neal was in basketball — but that doesn't take away from his point, he said.
"Am I the equivalent as a football player as Shaq was a basketball player? No," Sharpe said. "But what I did do is that I maximized that. My question is Shaq, do you believe that you gave everything you possibly could in basketball. Did you train the way you should have? Did you eat the way you should have?"
Shaquille O'Neal-Shannon Sharpe diss track
With Sharpe putting the ball back in O'Neal's court (pun intended), the NBA Hall of Famer elected to go a different route in responding.
Diss tracks have been all the rage recently, with rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake going at it with a lyrical back-and-forth. Shaq elected to take a page out of their books, dropping a diss track in Sharpe's direction to continue the feud.
What did Shaquille O'Neal say about Nikola Jokic's MVP win?
When TNT's "Inside the NBA" crew revealed Jokic as the NBA MVP winner Wednesday night, O'Neal took a weird approach to the panel's interview with the Nuggets star. While he praised Jokic for his efforts this season, he made it clear that he didn't feel the Denver center deserved the honor.
"I don't like to rain on people's parade but I'm not happy with this one," O'Neal said. "Congratulations to Joker, you are the best big man in the league, but, based on everybody's criteria ... stats, No. 1 seed, which team has the better record? I felt Shai [Gilgeous]-Alexander deserved it.
"I've been No. 2 [in the MVP race] a lot and I played my a— off. So the fact he has to start all over next year and try and win it again, I know this is going to be hurtful for him. Hopefully, he uses it to motivate him and win a championship.
"I thought, and again, no disrespect to the Joker — the best big man in the league by far. ... I thought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was gonna win it."
MORE: Latest news and rumors on NBA's prospective TV deal
This is not a new stance from O'Neal. He has been campaigning for Gilgeous-Alexander as this year's MVP since January. Still, there's a time and a place for criticism. Doing so quite literally minutes after the award was announced and directing his comments right at Jokic struck an odd note on a celebratory night for the Nuggets star.
Most Popular
Comments / 0