NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has named Rudy Gobert as the worst NBA player of all time. When asked who he considers the WOAT (worst of all-time), Shaq responded, “Rudy Gobert.”
O’Neal was also questioned about Ben Simmons, another player who has faced criticism for his performance. Shaq described Simmons as “another bum,” elaborating, “If you sign a contract for $250 million, give me $250. 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 my $120.”
Shaq’s critique stems from his view that high-earning players like Simmons, who have underperformed, are not respecting the game. He stated, “So you got guys like him that f*ck the system over making all this money and they can’t f*cking 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 sh*t.”
Gobert, who is under a five-year, $205 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, was named Defensive Player of the Year last season for the fourth time. However, his contract and accolades have not shielded him from criticism.
Simmons, who has a five-year, $177 million contract, has also faced scrutiny for his recent performance. Over the past two seasons, he has posted some of the lowest statistics of his career, averaging 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game last season. In addition, Simmons played just 115 games over the first four years of his contract.
