Shaquille O’Neal admitted to not being impressed by the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Rui Hachimura last month. Shaq said he didn’t know who Hachimura was, prompting a back-and-forth exchange with current NBA star Kevin Durant.
Shaq recently changed his tune and issued an apology to Hachimura while appearing on his Big Podcast. However, there were a couple of problems with his apology.
“Let me apologize to Rudy Hachimura. I didn’t know who he was because I never watch the Bullets play, but he’s a fine role player… I now know who you are,” O’Neal said.
Durant chimed in on Twitter, correcting Shaq’s mispronunciation of Rui’s name.
Sorry, Shaq, his name is Rui, not Rudy. Furthermore, former more Shaq said he does not watch the “Bullets” play. It’s the Washington Wizards. Bullets were the team’s former name. However, it changed in 1997. That’s long enough not to get the team confused, right?
Shaq is a Lakers icon and has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. But since becoming an NBA analyst for Turner Sports, some of his takes on players have garnered criticism.
Durant chimed in when Shaq initially proclaimed he did not who Hachimura was.
Durant said Shaq doesn’t know basketball. That forced Shaq to provide a fiery response via social media. Shaq knows basketball, but as a basketball analyst, it is expected that the “Diesel” know the players he gets paid to talk about.
Then again, the Wizards don’t appear on nationally televised games of late.
Rui Hachimura is averaging 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds through 11 games since being traded to the Lakers.
