Never go to bed early because you know there could be arguments between professional athletes on social media.

Late Monday night, a public feud between the Orlando Magic legends returned to the spotlight after Shaquille O’Neal brave exclaimed former NBA big man Dwight Howard on X.

Shaq – the undisputed winner of the two when it comes to NBA legacy – has shared bitter feelings with Dwight Howard in the past, but went on a tirade on Monday.

Appearing on a podcast last week, Howard decided to throw gas at their heated past, to which Shaq referenced X and warned Dwight to keep his mouth shut.

The Shaq attack was violent.

Shaquille O’Neal posted:

“Dwight Howard, the fact that you think I care about you is funny, but I will never mention your name again, a sensitive big man, a joker who can’t take a joke. I will never say your name again.” Have a great day and now you’ve been deleted. #inevercared #trustme.

The two previously feuded on public platforms after Shaq criticized Howard for following the Lakers to the 2020 NBA Championship – Dwight’s only career title, which seems dull next to Shaq’s four rings.

Shaq and Dwight, key figures in Orlando Magic history, share a unique bond – one that neither seems to enjoy.

Dwight Howard’s podcast interview last week openly referenced the Shaq altercation.

Howard said he never intended to follow O’Neal’s career path (though he still fell short of The Big Aristotle’s NBA excellence), even though the career paths were oddly aligned – they ran through Orlando and the Lakers.

“What I hated most was the fact that he always thought I was trying to be him or be like him,” Howard said on the Gauds Show. “But again, if I wanted to be you or like him, shouldn’t you take that as a compliment and show how great you are as a player and person?”

Despite heating up the rivalry, Howard seems ready to end this long-standing feud with Shaq.

“Okay, Shaq, I just never showed any disrespect. … But he always had something to say and you know, there are times when I’ve had enough and I’m like, yo Shaq just gotta stop,” Howard added.

However, at one point, Howard said he wanted to inform Shaq of his intention to “throw hands,” a not-so-subtle way of fighting O’Neal.

The door was actually open for Shaq to answer. And Big Diesel wasted no time.

In Los Angeles, with a statue outside the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) to prove it, Shaq has the opportunity to leverage his status against Howard, and he does.

Not only will things burn hotter than ever in 2025, but this off-court rivalry is also expected to fuel “Inside the NBA” segments. In the next one few days, NBA fans should expect a joke from Charles Barkley calling out Shaq for attacking Dwight Howard.

(Should Shaq be the bigger man?)

Shaq has had time to fight almost everyone on social media.

“Celtic Shaq had four rings when you were cheering in your mom’s basement,” Shaq also posted during his heated run, calling out social media account TheHaterReport for alluding to Shaq as “washed.”

Maybe it’s time to hang up the phone, Shaq.

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