Shaquille O’Neal unleashed a blunt and expletive-filled rant about Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert on The Big Podcast with Shaq.
“I f––ing hate Rudy Gobert,” O’Neal said during the episode. “If Rudy Gobert gets into the Hall of Fame, I’ll wear this dress to the motherf––ing ceremony.”
The four-time NBA champion has frequently criticized Gobert, but this outburst marked his most direct and profane statement yet.
Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Star, recently helped lead the Timberwolves to their second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance.
In the 2025 playoffs, Gobert delivered a dominant Game 5 performance against the Lakers, posting a career-high 27 points and 24 rebounds in a 103–96 win to advance Minnesota to the second round.
He joined Kevin Garnett as the only players in franchise history to record a 20–20 game in the postseason.
Despite his accolades—seven All-Defensive First Team selections, an All-NBA Second Team nod in 2017, and three appearances on the All-NBA Third Team—Gobert’s style of play and offensive limitations have often drawn criticism from former players.
Shaq, a Hall of Famer himself, has repeatedly questioned Gobert’s impact relative to his salary and statistical production.
In October 2024, Gobert signed a three-year, $110 million extension with Minnesota, which sparked renewed debate among analysts about his long-term value.
Over 12 NBA seasons, Gobert has averaged 12.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, while leading the league in field goal percentage multiple times.
He also won the NBA’s rebounding title in 2022 and was the blocks leader in 2017.
However, his offensive game remains limited, and he has faced challenges at the free-throw line throughout his career, converting 64.1% overall.
