Shaquille O’Neal went viral with a moment on his podcast firing shots at Rudy Gobert. The three-time Finals MVP scoffed at the idea of Gobert reaching the Hall of Fame. However, he might have a hard time, as Gobert is a likely Hall of Famer.
Since 2013, Rudy Gobert has been a fantastic player for his teams. First, he was the Utah Jazz’s defensive anchor, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards with them. He moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022, and he continued his defensive prowess with another DPOY award in 2024.
The other two four-time DPOY winners, Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, reached the Hall of Fame. That means Gobert is on his way to the Hall of Fame as well, even without a championship.
He already has a worthy legacy, but people like Shaquille O’Neal will always be part of his harsh critics. O’Neal even noted that he would wear a dress in Gobert’s potential induction. Unfortunately for Diesel, he might have to follow up on that statement.
Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty ImagesJefferson calls out O’Neal’s Gobert take
With four DPOY awards, Gobert deserves praise for what he has done in his career. He proved himself as one of the league’s greatest defenders, even though he has weaknesses in his game. His rim protection is arguably the best in league history, as smaller players are afraid of driving against him.
Due to his reputation as a top defender, the rare moments when he is ineffective are often amplified. With his high standards as a defender, people criticize his perimeter defense and offensive game. Of course, that’s not his style, as he dominates the paint and the area around the rim.
O’Neal’s primary issue with him is that the Frenchman does not dominate the paint enough for O’Neal’s liking. That has never been part of Gobert’s game, and former NBA All-Star Richard Jefferson has discussed it.
“It is a 99.8% chance he is going to be a Hall of Famer based on his Defensive Player of the Years. Like, there are people with less than they have gotten in,” Jefferson said on the Road Trippin’ Show.
“Shaq, congratulations. You are 1,000% will be wearing a dress. And I hope you’re not one of those that talk big and then all of a sudden don’t fulfill that promise.”
Gobert will go down as one of the NBA’s greatest ever defenders
Amidst all the criticism he has received, Gobert has constantly proven his value to a team. During his time in Utah, they were often a top defensive team. The same is true for his stint with the Timberwolves. Every time he plays, he makes an impact defensively through his talent and leadership.
Some people might disagree with that, but the numbers tell a different story. Gobert is one of the league’s most impactful defenders. Player sentiment and total accolades prove he is worthy of being in the Hall of Fame. Some people like Markieff Morris won’t like that, but Gobert is that impactful.
O’Neal might not be the biggest fan, but Gobert can be proud of his work. He has done a good job of cementing himself as a top-tier defender. The Frenchman already has a fantastic resume, and he will add to that.