Somehow, we here at the offices of the ShaqFu Radio blog missed this. Dwight Howard, former big with the Los Angeles Lakers, has taken his game overseas. He’s playing in Taiwan! Now we’re catching up with the story, and – of course – thoughts on the move from our man Shaq.
OK, so we did a little Google-ing, and found Howard has signed with the Taoyuan Leopards of Taiwan’s T1 basketball league. Turns out hoops is super-popular on the island nation, right behind baseball. Howard made the announcement of the move early this month (as of this writing). Not gonna lie. Missed that story completely.
So in his first game with those aforementioned Leopards, Howard put up some impressive numbers: 38 points and 25 rebounds, helping his team to a 120–115 win against New Taipei CTBC DEA (not sure what that stands for).
On his latest podcast – The Big Podcast with Shaq – O’Neal was definitely not impressed. Podcast co-host Spice Adams asked O’Neal about Howard’s play. Shaq just laughed.
Shaq: “You should never be complimented for being a good father because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right? He’s supposed to have 30 points playing against dudes 5’8”.”
Pressed about it a little more, Shaq shot back: “This league reminds me of the Life Time Fitness league every Saturday when I go workout on Saturdays.” Ouch!
Howard didn’t take those comments very well, and he didn’t take long to reply… on social media, of course. On an Instagram Live video just a few hours after Shaq’s comments came out, he got into it.
Howard: “First thing I want to say is, you gotta stop hating brother. You gotta stop hating! I have never in my life came at you about your basketball career, your family, your kids, anything of the sort. Because there is no need to. The world is too big to hate on another man. … Have I joked about, I’ve mimicked your voice, have I mimicked what I see on TV? Everybody do that. Comedians do that. People do that all the time. And I do it all the time, I do that to everybody. But I do not hate on people.”
Howard went on to defend his team and fellow players: “Do not disrespect my teammates in this league and these people in Taiwan like that. That is highly disrespectful and it’s hating. And you too old to be hating. You too big to be hating. You suppose to be Superman, the original Superman. Shaquille O’Neal. The original Superman is hating? The OG Superman is hating?”
He went on with even more, but you get the message. So, is it over? Hard to say. We’re guessing Shaq may have a comeback (or two), but only time will tell.