Big Ru responds to Shaq’s “worst player” comment: “It is sad”

[Effigy]

Where's this hate coming from Shaq? Did Rudy give Shaq Covid?

[JDR720]

Where's this hate coming from Shaq? Did Rudy give Shaq Covid?

Rudy has won more DPOY's than he has.

[ForeverTFC]

Zero interest in starting a dialogue, but I kind of think a lot of it stems from Rudy Gobert being European.

Beyond that though, he is kind of a weird dude and has a target on his back from winning DPOY as many times as he has (deservedly, but narratives stick).

While xenophobia plays into it partly, I think it's pretty low on the list.

It's not just the Americans, we've seen the disdain Luka has for him. When Ant said Gobert puts zero fear in his heart, he called Porzingis the best rim protector in the league. Rudy just isn't liked or respected by his colleagues. Some journalists have hinted that they know why, but refuse to share it. I think after his retirement, we'll finally learn what it is that bothers all these guys so much when it comes to Rudy.

[madskillz8]

i'd take the liability of Ben wallace over Gobert any day.

Good for you.

My point was Gobert is far from being worst, or ineffective - but not to claim he's better than Ben Wallace, who is arguably the most effective players I've ever watched. Big Ben is an epitome of players who can still impact the game big time even with glaring weaknesses, and Gobert is no different in that sense.

[Black Jack]

Shaq's comments on current players can be really pathetic sometimes.

[Rainwater]

Zero interest in starting a dialogue, but I kind of think a lot of it stems from Rudy Gobert being European.

Beyond that though, he is kind of a weird dude and has a target on his back from winning DPOY as many times as he has (deservedly, but narratives stick).

Is it really because he is European? I know there was a stigma about Europeans being soft but Joker, Doncic, and Giannis have never gotten the hate that Rudy has gotten. I really think its a combination of his game, his many defensive player of the year awards, and something behind the scenes why people don’t like him.

[dockingsched]

Zero interest in starting a dialogue, but I kind of think a lot of it stems from Rudy Gobert being European.

Beyond that though, he is kind of a weird dude and has a target on his back from winning DPOY as many times as he has (deservedly, but narratives stick).

Is it really because he is European? I know there was a stigma about Europeans being soft but Joker, Doncic, and Giannis have never gotten the hate that Rudy has gotten. I really think its a combination of his game, his many defensive player of the year awards, and something behind the scenes why people don’t like him.

I think it’s the awards, people don’t respect it that others view him that way.

There’s always been players get overpaid, plenty of well respected Europeans. But players have a hard time getting over Gobert getting the accolades that “puts him” on their level.

[Swift21]

Shaq does go too far. When he was going at Javele Mcgee all those years it was starting to look like bullying.

[Klomp]

I don't think he's a bad defender. But unfortunately, there were too many lowlight tapes of Gobert getting crossed by Curry/Harden, Clippers mounting that comeback with him getting blown by numerous times and this past season with Jokic/Doncic having iconic moments with him in the picture. A bulk of it are not his fault, but lowlights stick out so much more than the highlights. There's not a lot of "highlight tapes" of Gobert in general, maybe due to lack of fanbase?

Take my favorite player, Ben Wallace, for example. You search him on YouTube, you would probably see highlights with ferocious blocks to the 3rd row, pinning Shaq's dunk, etc. Most would only remember that. To be honest, I'm getting old, these were some of my favorite moments and I have this nostalgic feeling as I'm typing this. I also remember Yao Ming jammed it on him in the post.....but who cares, he was a post defender to pour his heart out every game.

Also, there is probably a decent amount of people who would say someone like Jamal Crawford is better Derrick White (for example) strictly due to highlights.

The reason is people who make these highlight video and the audience who watch them does not care about his defensive gravity (e.g., altering myriad of shots every game or help defense) as much as they care about big dunks and blocks that throws the ball to the 3rd row, as you said. Because the motivation to spend hours to make these highlights videos are to generate clicks (thus $$$).

Also while he's not good at the perimeter and anything close to Ben Wallace on one-on-one but his defensive IQ is off the charts and he's also not a big liability unlike Ben Wallace (66FG% >>> 47%, 64%FT>>>41%).

He might not be among the best in blocked shots or even opponent FG (I'm just guessing here), but that's a prevalent problem of using advanced stats lazily without getting help from the eye-test to add some context - these stats never captures the number of times an opposing player changes his mind about attacking to the rim or passing the ball after altered shot attempts, and in the last decade, I think he's regularly one of the best in these categories, if not best.

These are good points. I think the markets Rudy has played in has also likely hindered any hype around his game. Both Utah and Minnesota markets have raved about Rudy and his impact, but it's something that truly has to be understood by watching him over and over, game in and game out. The year after the Jazz went 52-20 and finished as the No. 1 seed in the West, Utah was rewarded with just 14 total national TV games in 2021-22.
In Gobert's first two seasons in Minnesota, the Wolves have been on national TV for 10 and 5 games, respectively. This year, Gobert will be on national TV for a career-high 18 games.

[Klomp]

There’s always been players get overpaid, plenty of well respected Europeans. But players have a hard time getting over Gobert getting the accolades that “puts him” on their level.

But there's a lack of nuanced understanding today, thanks largely to social media. Was Dikembe Mutombo "on Shaq's level" really? In terms of play style and even accolades, that is the closest player comp someone could make to Rudy, and Deke even played in Shaq's era. I never thought they were at the same level though, even with all of the accolades. Rudy is never talked about in the same discussions as Jokic and Embiid, just like Mutombo was never in that discussion with Shaq and Hakeem. So why does Shaq act like people think Rudy is better than he ever was? I think it has to be the money.

[jbsays]

They need to order some Papa Johns and hash it out.

[Black Jack]

There’s always been players get overpaid, plenty of well respected Europeans. But players have a hard time getting over Gobert getting the accolades that “puts him” on their level.

But there's a lack of nuanced understanding today, thanks largely to social media. Was Dikembe Mutombo "on Shaq's level" really? In terms of play style and even accolades, that is the closest player comp someone could make to Rudy, and Deke even played in Shaq's era. I never thought they were at the same level though, even with all of the accolades. Rudy is never talked about in the same discussions as Jokic and Embiid, just like Mutombo was never in that discussion with Shaq and Hakeem. So why does Shaq act like people think Rudy is better than he ever was? I think it has to be the money.

Shaq is really rich, it's no the money.

I think Shaq is just mad at centers who are still young and playing. He's salty about not being in the spotlight anymore.

[Frank Dux]

Shaq is a bozo, and has always been somewhat of a bully. Awhile back he was making fun of a short black dude on social media who looked like he had some sort of birth defect. Gross behavior from a millionaire, who has a lot of influence.

I don't mind clowning on guys here and there. But Shaq punches down far too often.

[dockingsched]

There’s always been players get overpaid, plenty of well respected Europeans. But players have a hard time getting over Gobert getting the accolades that “puts him” on their level.

But there's a lack of nuanced understanding today, thanks largely to social media. Was Dikembe Mutombo "on Shaq's level" really? In terms of play style and even accolades, that is the closest player comp someone could make to Rudy, and Deke even played in Shaq's era. I never thought they were at the same level though, even with all of the accolades. Rudy is never talked about in the same discussions as Jokic and Embiid, just like Mutombo was never in that discussion with Shaq and Hakeem. So why does Shaq act like people think Rudy is better than he ever was? I think it has to be the money.

On their level as in the level of accolades reserved for an all time great, which I don’t believe they think Gobert should have. I just don’t think they view him as deserving of the awards.

[jbsays]

People really think Gobert is better than Shaq? Who said thinks that? Has anyone said it? The number of centers you could make an argument being better than Shaq is pretty small and most of them played before him. In my opinion, even Jokic has more to do than to go down better than Shaq in all time center ranking. Off the top of my head I can't think of any center post Shaq who I would rank higher than him.

[Quattro]

Shaq is a 7 foot baby…. Always has been and always will be.

[og15]

FIrst off, it's Shaq. The guy honestly talks about earning his 120 Million and having neck issues while also being Mr. "I got hurt on company time, so I’ll rehab on company time."

Shaq has a tendency to have problems with certain players. Reminding people that Steve Nash stole "his" MVP. Kinda beefing with Bill Walton because he felt he wasn't an alltime great like him. Disrespecting Dwight pretty much his whole career every chance he got. That Javale McGee Shaqtin a Fool thing that went a bit over the top with time.

My guess is that he is generally a bit bitter about never winning DPOY and feels that Dwight and Gobert have too many and only have them because they played in a "softer" area.

About the Gobert hate in general, it probably has to do partially with the size of this contract, otherwise a mixture of maybe some biases towards "soft" Euros. Personally I don't get it at all, the guy was a late first and played less than 10 minutes his rookie year, he is a complete overachiever.

Makes no sense, guy wasn't even putting the effort on defense in the regular season to be a DPOY. That would be a wild reason. I think Shaq just likes to bully people.

People really think Gobert is better than Shaq? Who said thinks that? Has anyone said it? The number of centers you could make an argument being better than Shaq is pretty small and most of them played before him. In my opinion, even Jokic has more to do than to go down better than Shaq in all time center ranking. Off the top of my head I can't think of any center post Shaq who I would rank higher than him.

Zero people think Gobert is better than Shaq. Gobert doesn't think he's better than Shaq.

[165bows]

Shaq always hates on bigs he feels we was better than, when they are better he'll say something along the lines of he could have done that too if he was allowed to play that way.

however for whatever reason Rudy does seem to rub a lot of NBA guys the wrong way it seems tho

This all pretty much sums it up imo lol.

[FreeBird23]

I used to be a Shaq fan. Not anymore. He is a dumbass.

At one point its becoming some kind of harassment. Rudy doesnt deserve it.

[TheGOATRises007]

Shaq is a clown