In a league rich with dominant big men past and present, few understand the physical demands of the center position better than Dwight Howard. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and NBA champion recently weighed in on a timeless debate: who, if anyone, could go toe-to-toe with Shaquille O’Neal in his prime?
Howard’s answer? A healthy Joel Embiid.
“I felt like if he had stayed healthy, he would probably be the only player at that time who I could see giving Shaq problems, if he was playing Shaq one-on-one,” Howard said in a recent appearance on the Curious Mike podcast with Michael Porter Jr.
Howard’s praise carries weight. Not only did he dominate the paint during his own prime with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, but he also played alongside Embiid during the 2020–21 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. That firsthand experience gave him a unique perspective on Embiid’s rare combination of size, skill, and footwork.
Embiid, the 2024–25 NBA MVP, has long drawn comparisons to greats of the past. At 7 feet tall and nearly 280 pounds, he possesses the physicality to battle in the post, the finesse to hit mid-range jumpers, and the agility to defend across multiple positions. But injuries have often limited his availability, a point Howard subtly acknowledged in his comments.
Shaquille O’Neal, meanwhile, remains the gold standard for dominant centers. At his peak with the Lakers in the early 2000s, Shaq was virtually unstoppable, averaging over 30 points and 15 rebounds in the 2000 NBA Finals and earning three consecutive Finals MVPs.
