In 2009, Dwight Howard dragged the Orlando Magic past LeBron’s Cavaliers to the Finals, averaging 25 and 13. It should’ve been his crowning moment. Instead, it turned into fuel for one of the pettiest beefs in NBA history: Shaquille O’Neal vs. the self-proclaimed “Superman.” But maybe there is room for two supermen in 2025… Shaq does not seem to deny so.

Back in the day, Shaq didn’t exactly welcome the next big man on the block. The four-time champion took shots at Howard’s footwork, dismissed his Finals run, and even anointed Andrew Bynum as the “best big man in basketball.” Howard, who had playfully dubbed himself “Superman” during the 2008 dunk contest, laughed off the digs in public. But behind the smile, the criticism cut deep as Shaq was making it clear the throne wasn’t u

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