In a surprising turn of events, NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal appears to be extending an olive branch to fellow legendary center Dwight Howard.

Despite once being considered the dominant big men of their generation, O’Neal and Howard have often found themselves at odds. Their careers followed strikingly similar paths, both starting with the Orlando Magic before joining the Los Angeles Lakers and later playing for multiple teams in the league.

Over the years, O’Neal hasn’t held back in criticizing Howard, using his platform on TNT’s Inside the NBA to air grievances, from disputes over the “Superman” moniker to questioning Howard’s toughness.

However, it seems that O’Neal is now ready to mend fences. Recently, he appeared on Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young’s From the Point podcast to address the feud and express his underlying respect for Howard.

“If I mention your name, it means I love you and respect you,” O’Neal stated, as reported by Bleacher Report on X. “I used to love Dwight. He did something I couldn’t do. I wish I could jump that high. I love Dwight Howard.

“Other people don’t know that. This is my first time saying that. But as a big brother, I ain’t gonna let my little brother slide because I want you to be better than me. A lot of people don’t understand this thing of ours. They think it’s just hate. Nah, it ain’t hate. I’m telling you how to get here. You know I’m here, dawg.”

This unexpected gesture from O’Neal suggests a willingness to reconcile and move past past grievances. It highlights the complexity of their relationship and offers hope for a renewed understanding between two giants of the game.