Joe Budden Compares Shaq To 50 Cent Amid His Feud With Dwight Howard

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Joe Budden weighed in on Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal’s long-standing feud during the latest episode of his podcast. In doing so, he explained how Shaq’s antics on social media and covering the NBA reminds him of 50 Cent.

Budden began by suggesting that he feels the sports legends who never won a ring are usually the pundits who hate the younger generation. “The people that won, you won’t hear Peyton Manning say a bad word about nobody, even if it’s the worst person on the football field. Same with Tom Brady, anybody,” he argued. After noting that Shaq does unfairly hate on Howard, Budden added: “I be giving Shaq a pass when he do it. Like, I don’t really take it for what it is because I just look at him like the 50 Cent of the athletes.”

Dwight Howard Competes For The Taoyuan Leopards In Taiwan

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – FEBRUARY 19: Center Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards reacts at the court during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)

From there, the group read a recent social media interaction between Shaq and Howard, in which the two continued throwing shots at one another. “The fact u think I care about u is funny, but I won’t ever bring your name up again sensitive big man, a jokester that can’t take a joke. Won’t ever say your name again ever again. Have a great day and now u have been deleted. Have a great day,” Shaq wrote on X (formerly Twitter.) Howard replied: “I know you care. Cuz yo insecure ass been hating and talking sh*t for 20 years. You to big to be this insecure. I hope you don’t bring my name up again. 52 years old tweeting me. And still hating. Now all this time you was joking. You always been jealous. Jealous of Kobe, penny, dwayde. You jealous of Charles too. Go move around big lazy insecure ass. I still have that long 5 Paragraph direct message you sent me a couple years ago telling me that I’m not that great to hate. And you still doing it. It’s 2025 grow the hell up. and move on.”

Joe Budden Speaks On Shaq & Dwight Howard

Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021–22 season as a member of the Lakers. Afterward, he joined the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan for a year. Check out Joe Budden’s full thoughts on Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard below.

About The Author

Cole Blake is a current staff writer at HotNewHipHop based out of New York City. He began writing for the site as an intern back in 2018 while finishing his B.A. in Journalism at St. John’s University. In the time since, he’s covered a number of breaking stories for HNHH. These include the ongoing YSL RICO trial, the allegations surrounding Diddy, and much more. His work also extends outside of hip-hop, having written extensively about a myriad of topics including politics, sports, and pop culture. He’s attended several music festivals to provide coverage for the site as well, such as Rolling Loud and Governors Ball.

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