Kendrick Perkins has a problem with Shaq's constant criticism of Rudy Gobert: "There is always an old head bringing up why this new generation gets paid"

Kendrick Perkins has a problem with Shaq’s constant criticism of Rudy Gobert: “There is always an old head bringing up why this new generation gets paid” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The power and influence Shaquille O’Neal still holds is unbelievable. Nearly 15 years after retiring, his voice still carries enormous weight in the NBA world. While much of his presence has been tied to jokes and antics, his criticism of Rudy Gobert is becoming a more serious matter.

Last year, the two had a brief back-and-forth on social media, only for O’Neal to continue his attacks on the 7’1″ Frenchman. Shaq’s biggest issue with Gobert seems to be that he still secured a $250 million contract despite having little to no offensive game.

Perkins took the opposite stance this time

One of Shaq’s old-era rivals, Kendrick Perkins, who himself is known for harshly criticizing today’s players, took the opposite stance this time.

“It seems like every single time it’s always an old head bringing up what this new generation is getting paid,” Perkins said on his Road Trippin’ podcast. “Why? Rudy Gobert makes $250 million. We just addressed Kenyon Martin and Gilbert Arenas talking about Chet Holmgren getting $250 million. Let them guys get paid. Shaq, you, in my eyes, Shaquille O’Neal is the most dominant player to ever play the game of basketball. Some may argue, but as far as pure dominance, that’s who he is.”

Although Gobert has had some phenomenal performances throughout his career, he was ultimately brought in as a sort of defensive anchor. Interestingly, unlike most European players who come into the league technically polished and fundamentally sound, Gobert relied more on his incredible athleticism.

“Rudy is not you, bro, and that’s OK” Perkins continued. “You can’t expect Rudy to go out there to put 24 and 20, that’s not who he is. He is a four time Defensive Player of the Year. And when you look at the numbers, when Rudy is on the floor, he has that type of impact. Has he won a championship yet? No. Has he been able to lead a team like Ben Wallace was anchoring the defense? He hasn’t. I’m just getting tired of every single time — and look, I’m very critical of players in the way that they perform, critiquing their game if they’re not getting sh-t done. But I’ve never ever, ever, ever f-cking counted somebody else’s pockets, or told the world what another player or these players shouldn’t be getting.”

Gobert consistently pushes his teams into contender status

Perkins’ point is clear — even Shaq has crossed the line this time. Gobert consistently pushes his teams into contender status. He did it with the Utah Jazz and now with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The people paying him clearly understand his value.

He is in the same breath as Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace — the only three players in history with four DPOY awards. Looking at that player profile, it’s apparent none of them had a polished offensive game, yet all three were key to their teams’ success.

This summer, Gobert took an off-season from playing with the French national team to work on his offensive game with Chris Matthews, aka Lethal Shooter. Subconsciously, Shaq’s criticism might’ve reached him. At 33 years old, it might be a little late to suddenly develop finishing tools around the rim.

“Rudy Gobert is committed to mastering his footwork and learning quicker reads to a smooth rhythm,” Matthews said. “I’ve been blessed over my career to help Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, Bobby Portis, Dwight Howard etc. Five guys who dominate from 15ft and in.”

Trend that won’t stop

Shaq’s issue likely stems from the belief that modern centers are overrated compared to the golden age of bigs. This generation featured the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Shaq himself.

Still, times change. The NBA grows financially every season, and this evolution is to be expected. It’s a trend that won’t stop. The best example of that might be the Oklahoma City Thunder, who essentially gave max contracts to three players, even though only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is performing at an MVP level.

Teams are thinking outside the box when building rosters, and if Gobert actually does win the chip with the Timberwolves, no one will have anything to say — not even about his massive contract.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.

Kendrick Perkins has a problem with Shaq’s constant criticism of Rudy Gobert: “There is always an old head bringing up why this new generation gets paid”

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