Shaquille O’Neal doubled down on his criticism of Rudy Gobert and he did it as bluntly as he could during an episode of The OGs podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.

The drama surrounding Shaq and Gobert began in August when Shaq called Gobert the worst player of all time and said the Timberwolves center was not worth the money he earned in his ten-year NBA career.

“I’ll tell you why. Because if you sign a $250 million contract, show me 250,” Shaq told Complex to spark the feud. “There’s a reason why I walk funny, why I can’t turn my neck, and why I can’t is because I played for my $120 million. So there are guys like him that break the system and make so much money and still can’t play. I don’t respect guys like that.”

Gobert responded, “It’s sad to see someone who has accomplished as much as you (Shaq) in both sports and business still get provoked by another man’s finances and success… I understand the entertainment aspect, but unlike other people, you don’t need that to stay relevant.”

Relevant?

“A lot of these big men fall when I challenge them because they react. They’re sensitive,” Shaq told Haslem and Miller. “When I speak, I try to speak based on facts. It can come across wrong and you might think I’m hateful. His comment, ‘You’re trying to stay relevant,’ got me 15 commercials. What the hell are you talking about?”

It’s clear that Shaq doesn’t believe Gobert is as valuable as his accolades suggest.

“You’re the defensive player of the year, but every scouting report I see, they’re targeting you,” he said.

Haslem agreed.

“The defensive player of the year is expected to be able to defend his field and there is no strategy or situation where we can’t use him. Ultimately, he has to be the anchor of our defense. He can’t be the one they look at, he can’t be the one they isolate,” Haslem said.

Triggered by Gobert’s financial successes and achievements?

“I’m not going to be provoked by your finances or your successes,” Shaq said. “And when you talk about your successes or the little trophies you’ve won, that’s not enough. When you make $250 million, young man, that’s not enough.”

Haslem put it less delicately: “Win ​​a championship and shut us up.”

Gobert and the Timberwolves will aim to achieve that goal when training camp begins on October 1. The first preseason game will be on October 4, and the regular season will begin on October 22 with a nationally televised meeting between the Wolves and the Lakers in Los Angeles on TNT.