Shaq slammed Dwight over 2010 nickname dispute: “I never doubled anybody. You tell me who the real Superman is?” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
If you browse Basketball Reference’s nickname section, you might find the same moniker assigned to multiple players. That’s usually harmless for everyone involved.
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That easygoing attitude, however, disappeared when two dominant big men ended up sharing the same nickname: Superman.
First came Shaquille O’Neal. Then Dwight Howard. And the original Superman wasn’t too happy about sharing the title — something he made clear after their head-to-head matchup in February 2010.
Superman showdown
Back then, nearing 40, O’Neal was at an age when most assumed his prime was over — but he refused to accept that. The then-Cleveland Cavaliers veteran still believed he could compete with the league’s best. Still Shaq. And above all, still Superman.
Meanwhile, Orlando Magic’s Howard, who had shown off superhero-like athleticism and even wore a Superman cape during the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, had claimed the same moniker.
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Bragging rights came down to their aforementioned matchup when the Cavs faced the Magic.
The original nickname bearer — a three-time Finals MVP — was eager to prove himself, but that opportunity was arguably taken from him. From the opening tip at Rocket Arena, the Cavs, at the behest of head coach Mike Brown, assigned a second defender to help O’Neal double-team Howard in the post.
At first, it seemed like a standard tactic to contain one of the league’s top big men. But to Diesel, it sent a painful message.
Related: “We only needed one more guy” – Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help
Things got personal
Most NBA fans know Shaq has never been without a touch of pettiness since bursting onto the scene in the early 1990s. So it’s no surprise he took exception to the Cavaliers‘ double-team defense.
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After that 115-106 home win, Shaquille made it clear he didn’t feel at peace with the strategy. At the same time, he reminded everyone that throughout his storied career, O’Neal had faced the game’s greatest big men one-on-one without ever needing that kind of help.
However, people were now seeing a different reality — Diesel had gotten help from teammates when defending a future Hall of Fame center. By extension, that made Dwight automatically considered the new Superman, right?
“Superman, my a**,” Shaq responded after the game, denying that notion.
“Been doing it 18 years straight. Hakeem [Olajuwon], Ewing, Rik Smits, [Tim] Duncan, [David] Robinson, the best of the best, straight up. I never doubled nobody. Nor have I ever asked for a double-team. If want to bang and push, let’s bang and push,” the now 53-year-old added.
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While Shaquille felt being denied the chance to prove himself challenged both his legacy and identity, his fiery remarks carried some personal undertones.
For one, Dwight was in his prime while Shaq was nearing retirement — a tough pill to swallow.
On top of that, the reigning shot-block leader wasn’t just wearing Shaq’s nickname but also playing in his former city and even sporting his old jersey number. Having started his NBA journey with the Magic, it all hit a little too close to home.
Given how petty the Los Angeles Lakers legend could be, as mentioned, it’s no surprise O’Neal let his frustration boil over — taking shots at Howard, his favorite pastime during those days.
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“When I was coming up and there was Pat Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon], I never doubled anybody,” O’Neal pointed out. “You tell me who the real Superman is.”
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
