One of the coolest traditions in basketball happens when a player is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The moment isn’t just about speeches and enshrinement—it’s about legacy. Each inductee picks their own presenters, usually former teammates, mentors, or legendary rivals who shaped their career.
But when Dwight Howard steps up to accept his place among basketball’s immortals, one name on his presenter list is raising eyebrows everywhere: Shaquille O’Neal.
Yep. You read that right.
Shaq—the man who’s roasted Dwight for nearly two decades—is now one of the five Hall of Famers who will present him at his induction. And if you’ve followed their long-running beef, this is the kind of plot twist that deserves its own 30 for 30.
The Shaq-Howard feud dates back to 2008, when Dwight showed up to the Slam Dunk Contest in a Superman cape—Shaq’s iconic alter ego. That didn’t sit well with Diesel, who made it clear that in his eyes, there was only one Superman in the NBA.
Over the years, the back-and-forth turned personal. Whether it was on social media, TV, or podcasts, Shaq never passed up a chance to clown Dwight. And Dwight, for his part, made it known that the disrespect stung.
As recently as this past January, the tension was still very real. Dwight appeared on The Art of Dialogue and basically pleaded for peace, saying, “Yo, Shaq, this gotta stop, man.” Shaq, never one to hold back, clapped back on Twitter with a now-deleted message dismissing Dwight entirely and calling him “a jokester that can’t take a joke.”
Fast forward just a few months—and surprise! Not only have the two apparently squashed the beef, but now Shaq will be one of the men walking Dwight to the podium during his big moment. Shaq revealed the news himself on The Big Podcast, and just like that, one of the NBA’s longest-running feuds seems to be finally over.
And honestly? It’s about time.
Shaq and Dwight have way more in common than they’ve ever admitted. Both were No. 1 overall picks by the Orlando Magic. Both led that franchise to the NBA Finals. Both ended up in L.A. wearing Lakers gold. Both walked away with championship rings. And yes, both have rocked the Superman logo.
Now they’ll share something even bigger—membership in the Hall of Fame.
Dwight’s other presenters are a legendary lineup: Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dennis Rodman, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But it’s Shaq’s presence that adds the biggest surprise and emotional weight.
It’s a full-circle moment. The fun-loving, high-flying big men who once battled over nicknames and legacy will now stand side-by-side—proof that even in the ultra-competitive world of pro hoops, old wounds can heal.
And who knows? Maybe we’ll even get a smile from Shaq when Dwight hits the stage.