Haslem, after seeking clarification, said matter-of-factly that O’Neal would have put his hands on Gobert. Nevertheless, O’Neal said that razzing teammates into action was a motivational tactic. “It may sound personal, but it’s motivation. That’s all it is. It was just motivation,” O’Neal stated.

A lot of these big men, when I put out these challenges, they fail the test because they respond… Udonis Haslem: They sensitive now. Shaquille O’Neal: They sensitive. First of all, if you getting 250 (million) now what is your renewal check going say?

Shaquille O'Neal says players like Rudy Gobert and Ben Simmons should play hard because of their high salaries

Shaquille O'Neal doubles down on his harsh comments about Minnesota Timberwolves center and reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert.

In the NBA, emotions rise and at times some heated altercations are exchanged on the court. Other times, words said off the court spark different heated exchanges. Shaquille O’Neal has become quite the media personality since his basketball career came to an end.