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DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 18: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

Four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, but Shaquille O’Neal still thinks he’s overrated. Gobert has received a lot of praise for the Minnesota Timberwolves taking a 2-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has played significantly worse due to Gobert’s defense keeping him limited compared to his usual historically great stats.

O’Neal got upset at Charles Barkley and Jalen Rose for praising Gobert on Inside the NBA:

“I hate when y’all do that. Do you understand the law of averages? Let me explain it to you. Joker has dominated him a lot, right? He has one, two bad games and you’re saying Rudy is shutting him down?

Bro, just because you miss a shot and have a bad game doesn’t mean the defense is shutting you down. When you’re a guy like Joker, you’re just missing shots. I’m not going to sit up here and say Rudy Gobert is shutting him down, I’m never going to say that.”

Shaq can relate more to Jokic as the superstar leading his team more than Gobert as an offensive lightweight who dominates defensively. Gobert clearly deserves credit for playing arguably the best defense Jokic has ever seen since becoming a superstar. Unfortunately, O’Neal will never give him credit and argued against his praise.

Why Shaq Strongly Dislikes Rudy Gobert

Money is the main reason that O’Neal started to criticize Gobert back during his stint with the Utah Jazz. Gobert received a max contract, despite being a below average offensive player failing to utilize his height advantage for strong scoring figures.

Shaq constantly called out Gobert for his low scoring efforts in playoff games against weaker centers. Playoff game planning forcing Gobert to the bench against offenses run by James Harden and Luka Doncic made O’Neal’s wrath even stronger.

Legends from Shaq’s era predictably think less of someone winning Defensive Player of the Year four times while often letting others defend star big men and for getting played off the court in the postseason. Gobert has become one of O’Neal’s punching bags to make humorous comments mocking him throughout the years.

Rudy Gobert Is Saving His Playoff Reputation

Despite Shaq refusing to commend him, Gobert has earned more respect from basketball fans for his defense on Jokic. Regular season games saw Gobert criticized for having teammate Julius Randle defend opposing All-Star big men like Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.

Gobert has accepted the challenge of guarding Jokic one on one this series and has won the matchup. Jokic is delivering some of his worst shooting performances of the and looks unlike the nearly flawless offensive player we are used to.

Most of Gobert’s success in his career has come from orchestrating team defense and shutting down paint points. However, Gobert is going right at Jokic this series and doing everything in his power to make the game harder. Minnesota advancing past Denver would do a lot to help Gobert’s reputation as an all-time great defensive player.