Shaquille O’Neal, broadly regarded by many as the best middle in NBA historical past, dominated basketball for years together with his unparalleled presence on the court docket. Now retired at 52, O’Neal discovered himself the topic of an surprising problem from a former Los Angeles Lakers participant, who proposed a boxing match within the type of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul spectacle. Nonetheless, Shaq dismissed the provide with a pointy response, opting as an alternative for a hypothetical showdown in opposition to NFL legend Rob Gronkowski.
“Shaq, wassup? Let’s make bread,” Dwight Howard wrote on X (previously Twitter), accompanying his message with a boxing glove emoji and a laughing face, playfully difficult Shaquille to a duel. Whereas the tone of Howard’s message instructed it was a joke, Shaq’s response took many unexpectedly.
O’Neal dismissed the problem with a chopping comment. “Gotta have a couple of ring to get within the ring with me. I’ll keep on with an actual champion like Rob Gronkowski,” he replied, taking a jab at Howard’s NBA profession and suggesting he wasn’t a worthy opponent.
The point out of Rob Gronkowski was no coincidence. Shaq and the previous New England Patriots tight finish had crossed paths in the course of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson combat, the place Gronkowski floated the concept of a boxing showdown between the 2 legends, pitting the NBA in opposition to the NFL.
Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots appears to be like on within the first half in opposition to the Denver Broncos within the AFC Championship sport at Sports activities Authority Subject at Mile Excessive on January 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.
Shaquille O’Neal leans on his NBA legacy
Whereas the change between Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard carried a playful tone, O’Neal’s response wasn’t completely baseless. Shaq highlighted his 4 NBA championship rings—three consecutive titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Warmth—because the benchmark for choosing a possible boxing rival.
In distinction, Dwight Howard, regardless of a formidable almost 20-year NBA profession, doesn’t fairly measure as much as O’Neal’s legacy. The most important distinction lies of their championship resumes: Howard has only one title, received with the Lakers in 2020, the place his function was far much less vital in comparison with Shaq’s dominance throughout his prime.
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Gronkowski meets the usual
In contrast to Howard, Rob Gronkowski matches the standards Shaq values in a possible opponent. The previous NFL tight finish is a four-time Tremendous Bowl champion, profitable in 2014, 2017, and 2018 with the New England Patriots, and once more in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His embellished NFL profession mirrors O’Neal’s dominance within the NBA, making him an opponent Shaq deems worthy.
Regardless of the entertaining back-and-forth, the concept of Shaq moving into the boxing ring stays firmly hypothetical. Nonetheless, the considered a 7’1″ O’Neal going through off in opposition to the 6’6″ Gronkowski is an intriguing spectacle followers would like to see.
