Is Shaquille O'Neal Beefing With Karl-Anthony Towns?

On more than one occasion, Shaquille O’Neal has talked smack with other elite centers.

Uncle Shaq beefed with Dwight Howard so badly that his mother Dr. Lucille O’Neal had to step in. Before that, Shaq openly questioned Bill Walton’s inclusion in the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All Time. Plus, Shaq had issues with David Robinson. And Alonzo Mourning. And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Is Karl-Anthony Towns next on that list?

After the New York Knicks knocked off the Houston Rockets 108-106 on Saturday, the Big Diesel had an interesting exchange with Towns in a post-game interview. While Shaq started off with praise for KAT’s performance that night (25 points on 10-for-15 FG shooting, seven rebounds), he eventually started to push the 30-year-old center’s buttons.

“If you guys want to win a championship, of course they’re gonna talk about Brunson…you have to be dominant,” Shaq said.

Was O’Neal trying to stir the pot in New York? If he was, Towns wasn’t having it. “If we win a championship, they can talk about anybody,” he responded. “As long as we get a ring, that’s the most important thing.”

“No, you gotta play great,” Shaq fired back. “1-2 punch, you’re part of that.”

When Towns insisted that it doesn’t matter “who gets the credit” on this Knicks lineup, O’Neal pushed further. “It ain’t about credit. You gotta play great to get the credit.” At that point, all KAT could say was, “Legend, I agree with you.”

Did we mention that Shaq called Towns “soft” prior to this game?

While the Big Diesel can come across as a big bully at times, fans who have followed his career know exactly what he was trying to do with the Knicks big man in that interview. Raised by an Army sergeant and a mother who preached discipline, Shaq has been a lifetime proponent of tough love on the hardcourt. In multiple interviews, he has admitted that this philosophy drove him to needle Howard in the past, as he wanted Howard to toughen up and reach his full potential.

Of course, the mention of “1-2 punch” evokes memories of another athlete who did rise to greatness after dealing with Shaq. In the 2000s, stories about Kobe Bryant’s love-hate relationship with O’Neal were as popular as their dazzling highlights on the court. Years later, it became clear that their intense dynamic was key to unlocking the best versions of themselves and establishing a new Lakers dynasty with their three-peat.

From that perspective, it becomes clear that O’Neal (who is dead serious when he isn’t absolutely goofing around on “Inside the NBA”) was simply trying to turn Towns into the biggest beast that he will ever be in his career. If anyone still doubts that O’Neal had good intentions for his fellow Jersey native, rewinding the footage of their interview will reveal that Shaq said four particularly powerful words to Towns.

“I’m proud of you.”