Jake and Logan Paul seem to be everywhere these days. The YouTube stars turned boxing and wrestling personalities recently took their media blitz to Inside the NBA, where they were promoting their upcoming Max show, Paul American.
Describing the new project as “Testosterone Kardashians” to host Adam Lefkoe, the brothers aimed to hype their series with the same charisma that propelled their social media fame.
But, of course, any promotional appearance involving the Paul brothers wouldn’t be complete without some playful trash talk.
As the segment unfolded, the duo reignited their ongoing banter with Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq, dressed in an unusual mix of a suit jacket and pajama pants, humorously jabbed at the brothers, saying, “Don’t come to my show with your little arms all out.”
One of the Pauls shot back without hesitation, “You better back up, I know karate.”
The moment turned into a hilarious exchange inside a mock boxing ring, with co-hosts Candace Parker and Vince Carter looking on in amusement. Poor Lefkoe was caught in the middle as Shaq playfully used him as a human shield.
Shaq’s Costly Bet and Lingering Grudge
The lighthearted back-and-forth between Shaq and the Paul brothers has deeper roots.
Their rivalry dates back to Shaq’s appearance on their Impaulsive podcast in 2022, where the legendary big man gave them a hard time. But more recently, Shaq lost a significant amount of money due to a bet involving Jake Paul.
Shaq famously bet a million dollars on Mike Tyson to beat Jake Paul in their November fight, which turned out to be a lackluster event. Reminding Shaq of that financial loss, Jake Paul pointed a finger in Shaq‘s face and said, “See what I do to 50-year-olds.”
While the prospect of Shaq fighting either of the Paul brothers remains firmly in the realm of fantasy, the thought alone is entertaining. With his towering size and strength, Shaq stepping into the ring would be a spectacle – but not one that’s likely to happen anytime soon.
Shaq’s History of Celebrity Feuds
Shaq‘s playful feud with the Paul brothers is just one of many instances where the former NBA star has engaged in public spats.
Last year, he had a notable exchange with Shannon Sharpe after expressing his belief that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved the MVP title over Nikola Jokic.
Shaq‘s comment, “That’s no disrespect to you, but congratulations,” led to Sharpe accusing him of jealousy toward Jokic. Their verbal sparring eventually resulted in Shaq releasing a diss track aimed at Sharpe – though it fell well short of being a classic.
As a natural-born promoter, Shaq understands how to generate buzz. Whether he’s pushing Papa John’s pizza, endorsing Buicks, or promoting Ring doorbell cameras, he knows how to stay in the public eye.
His playful jabs at the Paul brothers during their Inside the NBA appearance only serve to keep everyone talking about their new show.
For now, the friendly feud continues, much to the delight of fans who enjoy seeing Shaq‘s playful side.
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