The Orlando Magic franchise has had a storied history, with some of the most talented players in the NBA donning the team’s colors. Two big men, in particular, stand out as the best to ever play for the Magic.
Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard both led the team to the NBA Finals, with O’Neal doing so in 1995 and Howard in 2009.
The Magic recently asked fans to choose between the two, and the topic came up on Inside the NBA.
While Shaq tried to brush off the question, he clearly got upset when Charles Barkley trolled him by picking Howard. Barkley shouted “Superman is in the building!” referencing Howard’s nickname.
Shaq: "They ain't gotta pick me. I sold my house in Orlando. I live in Fort Lauderdale now. Pick who you like."
Chuck: "I'm gonna go with Dwight." 😂 #MagicTogether https://t.co/25w7GJQj9j pic.twitter.com/vbtNsBqdqj
— 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧' 𝐍𝐁𝐀 (@_Talkin_NBA) January 27, 2023
Shaq has a long-standing beef with Howard, and it’s no surprise that he reacted in the manner he did. Shaq spent only four seasons with the Magic, but in that time, he averaged 27.2 PPG, 12.5 RPG, and 2.8 BPG.
Howard, on the other hand, put up 18.4 PPG, 13.0 RPG, and 2.2 BPG in his Magic career. While Howard was a better defender, Shaq had a significant advantage over him when it came to offense.
Shaq questions Howard’s Hall of Fame Status
Shaquille O’Neal has also questioned Howard’s Hall of Fame status recently. O’Neal has had beef with Howard for a very long time, and Howard has been puzzled as to why Shaq continues to have a problem with him.
O’Neal stated last month that he would stop going to Howard, as his mother told him to. However, that didn’t last long, as O’Neal questioned Howard’s Hall of Fame status earlier this month after his matchup with Sim Bhullar in the Taiwanese League.
While Shaq may not think Howard is Hall of Fame worthy, the numbers speak for themselves. Dwight Howard will most likely get into the Hall of Fame, whether Shaq likes it or not.
The Magic franchise may not have been around for long, but the players that have worn the jersey have left an indelible mark on the league, with Shaq and Howard being the best of the best.
