Shaquille O’Neal. Image: John Raoux/AP
As the saying goes, “Mother always knows best”—and it applies even if you’re a seven-foot-one behemoth like Shaquille O’Neal.
Twitter was ablaze over the weekend, as the retired NBA superstar-turned-analyst exchanged online barbs with Golden State Warriors’ center JaVale McGee.
But after exchanging multiple insults online, including straight up physical threats, the 44-year old TV personality said he is backing away from the confrontation, after being told so by his mother, Lucille O’Neal.
“I have orders from the top to leave it alone. My mama,” Shaq told the Undefeated. “Just say Shaq’s mom called him, told him, ‘Stop this silliness. Leave him alone.’ So that’s the end of the beef. You won’t be hearing about it from my side anymore. Mama has spoken.”
In a separate report, the O’Neal matriarch confirmed the plea she told her son. “It’s not funny anymore, seeing the things they’re saying to each other. They need to squash this and move on.”
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old McGee—who’s experiencing a career resurgence with the Warriors this season—has been a regular on O’Neal’s blooper-reel show due to his frequent gaffes mid-game. He was also hailed as the Shaqtin’ MVP two times, in 2011 and 2012.
Fed up with being the show’s butt of all jokes, McGee finally lashed out at O’Neal, after the latter once again chastised him in a “Doctor Strange” parody video.
Doctor Strange JaVale McGee#DubNation pic.twitter.com/L55So9WDcZ
— CandidSkeptic (@candid_skeptic) February 24, 2017
@SHAQ get my ‘s out of your mouth! And EAD! #thatisall
— Javale McGee (@JaValeMcGee34) February 24, 2017
As expected, O’Neal did not take those words kindly and even threatened to physically assault McGee when they come face-to-face.
Screen Grab from Twitter/@SHAQ
McGee fired back once more, with an expletive-laden response.
Screen grab from Twitter/@JaValeMcGee34
JaVale’s mother, former WNBA player Pamela McGee, also threw shade at O’Neal for “cyberbullying” his son. “Totally inappropriate. Shaquille needs to lose his job or be suspended. The NBA needs to make a stand,” she said.
As of this writing, the league has yet to comment on the issue and has not imposed penalties on either man.
McGee’s team, the Golden State Warriors, has reportedly reached out to Shaq’s employers, Turner Sports, to lay-off his criticism of their player. Khristian Ibarrola/JB