Rudy Gobert fires back at Shaq after calling him the worst NBA player of all time

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Rudy Gobert has had enough of the derogatory comments made by former NBA players on social media and is finally taking a stand.

Gobert was named the NBA's best defensive player for the fourth time in his career last season and helped the Minnesota Timberwolves to their best season in 20 years, as well as leading the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in two decades.

So why all the hate?

When former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal was asked who he thought was the worst player of all time, he replied, “Rudy Gobert. Ben Simmons is a bum too.”

Gobert averaged 14 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 76 regular season games for the Timberwolves. His length and ability to defend at the basket forced opposing teams to change their attacking strategy. Did he stop every play? No, but he blocked and redirected shots for one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

Rudy's answer

Gobert has had deflections from Shaq, Charles Barkley and even Draymond Green. On Thursday, he answered Shaq.

“It's sad to see someone who has accomplished as much in both sports and business as you, Shaq, still get provoked by someone else's finances and success. I understand the entertainment part, but unlike other people, you don't need that stuff to stay relevant,” Gobert posted on social media.

Gobert's teammates defended him during their playoff run earlier this summer by refusing to appear on TNT's pregame and postgame broadcasts because they felt they would receive unnecessary criticism from the panel, including Barkley and Green.

The money

Gobert was the key piece of a major trade that included several draft picks and players to the Utah Jazz to bring him to Minnesota. He is set to receive $43.8 million in the 2024-25 season and has a contract through 2026.

Shaq was more critical of Ben Simmons, who has a five-year, $177 million contract and has played a total of 57 games over the past three seasons. He did not play at all in the 2021-22 season due to injury and back problems, played just 42 games in the 2022-23 season and only 15 last season. In two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons has played just 45 games in the starting lineup.

“I'll tell you why, if you sign a contract for 250, show me 250. There's a reason I walk funny and I can't turn my neck, because I played for my 120,” Shaq said. “So there are guys like him that screw the system, make all this money and still can't play. Every time I make those comments, people think I hate them, but those are facts.”

While he can make his case against Simmons, firing ricochets at Gobert is inappropriate. Gobert has had enough, and rightly so.