Dwight Howard: Shaq's Attempt to Belittle Howard Completely Off the Mark

Dwight Howard has stuck his foot into his mouth time-and-time again regarding his passive-aggressive approach to requesting a trade, but Shaquille O’Neal has just one-upped him.

When speaking on a Turner sports conference call on Tuesday night, Shaq said it would be a “travesty” if Howard left the Orlando Magic. He says there are “underlying problems” that are preventing him from signing a contract extension (per ESPN).

Shaq must have a terrible memory.

Does he forget going to two NBA Finals with the Magic only to give them the cold shoulder in 1996 so he could enjoy all of the glitz and glamour that comes with the Los Angeles Lakers?

It’s almost laughable to think that Shaq, who pissed off almost every team by the time he left them, feels he is qualified to make comments like that.

There is no question that Shaq has despised Howard since he stole the whole Superman moniker that he had previously created. Yet, when you consider the endless amount of nicknames he gave himself over the years, why hold a grudge? It’s like a pimp getting mad when you date one of his girls. You can’t have ‘em all Shaq!

Now that Shaq has a microphone on TNT and access to millions, he has gone on a subliminal smear campaign on Howard. From calling Andrew Bynum the best center in the league to calling Howard out for the same thing he did, it’s oddly personal for Shaq.

While Howard is no saint—in fact, I think he’s botching his approach to getting traded horribly—Shaq has no room to talk at all. O’Neal is airing out dirty laundry, and it’s making him look petty and foolish.

Howard doesn’t need anybody to call him out—the proof is in his actions—but Shaq’s insistence on doing so makes him look like the bad guy.