The hate for Rudy Gobert doesn’t stop. It seems like every time a current or former NBA player gets a microphone put in front of them, they speak badly about the Frenchman. In an interview with Complex, Shaquille O’Neal said Gobert was the worst NBA player of all time. The Big Diesel also called Ben Simmons a “bum,” complaining about the money he has made on contracts while barely playing.
Shaq Calls Timberwolves Star Worst NBA Player of All Time
O’Neal has been known for his haterism, especially for modern NBA centers. He has called them “soft” and loves to mention how much he would dominate the league if he still played. Players like JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard have also faced the wrath of his constant hating. That being said, the hate for Gobert is different.
Shaq was asked who the worst NBA player of all-time is.
His response: “Rudy Gobert… Ben Simmons is another bum.”
(via @Complex)pic.twitter.com/tn2APS1vAL
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 4, 2024
Gobert is Not the Worst NBA Player of All Time
Calling Gobert the worst NBA player of all time is a stretch. Gobert is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. That is tied for the most of all time. Gobert is also a three-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA defensive player. Last year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he led another league’s best defense and helped the team reach the second round of the playoffs.
Gobert is more realistically one of the best defensive players ever and one of the most impactful regular season players of his era. He has averaged 12.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and over two blocks a game for his career. He is consistently in the top for field goal percentage and around-the-rim defense.
Shaq’s Incredible NBA Resume
The reality is that when O’Neal speaks, people listen. His NBA resume speaks for itself. He has four NBA championships, one MVP, and 14 All-NBA selections. He is in the conversation for one of the greatest NBA players of all time and is the (self-proclaimed) most dominant player ever. Known for his offensive prowess, O’Neal has some defensive chops as well. He doesn’t have Gobert’s defensive resume but has three All-NBA defensive team selections to hang his hat on.
O’Neal averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his career. He finished having made 58.2% of his field goal attempts. We won’t talk about his free-throw numbers…
Why So Much Gobert Hate?
From contemporaries like Draymond Green to now NBA legends like O’Neal, the Gobert hate doesn’t seem to stop. Maybe it is because, to many, he is the face of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic across the NBA. Maybe it is the budding rivalry from the Olympics between Team USA and Team France. Or perhaps it’s just because players have a tough time respecting someone whose play is so one-sidedly dominant. What we do know is that Gobert’s hate won’t stop anytime soon, but he certainly isn’t the worst NBA player of all time.
