image via: twitter

In case you missed it, Shaq and JaVale McGee had a pretty serious twitter beef last night that led to Shaq threatening to physically harm JaVale. There was no joking about any of it after McGee got upset with what he feels is the constant disrespect from Shaq when he is on Inside The NBA.

*Update* Shaq has responded to Durant.

*Original story continues below*

Maybe this whole thing reaching such a serious level will help the guys resolve their beef and end the nonsense but for now, its fully on!

As you might expect today, some of the Warriors players were asked about the situation and Kevin Durant fired some shots towards Shaq regarding his own career while sticking up for his teammate.

Here’s Durant comments, as transcribed by Anthony Slater

“JaVale works extremely hard, has come in here and done extremely well as a player. He only wants to be respected like anybody else. I understand that Shaq works for a company that wants him to do that type of stuff, make fun of players. It’s cool, it’s funny, but when you keep doing it time and time and time again and a guy actually disagrees with you and you threaten him. I didn’t know cops could threaten civilians like that. It’s definitely childish. But that’s what they want from these stars and these retired players is to feud with the guy who’s playing now and make arguments and disagreements. If I was JaVale, I’d feel the same way. It’s childish.”

Durant part 2, asked whether it’s affected McGee’s career: “It has. It has. Shaq wants to make a joke about it. But if it was him in that position, he’d feel the same way. We wouldn’t call him a bum and all this because he’s such a great player obviously. But still, everybody can’t be Shaq. He’s trying to make his money and enjoy the game of basketball and the perception of him now is that he’s a dumb player because he makes mistakes out there on the court. Shaq was a sh**** free throw shooter, he missed dunks, he airballed free throws, he couldn’t shoot outside the paint. He was bigger than everyone, didn’t have no skill, bigger and stronger than everyone. Still a great player, but you had your flaws as a player and you played on five or six teams, too. So it’s not like he’s just some perfect center. You had your flaws, too. I didn’t know cops could go on Twitter and threaten civilians like that. I’m glad JaVale challenged him.”

Durant part 3 on McGee: “You don’t see when he dunks on somebody, when he blocks a shot in the stands, when he catches a lob, when he beats another big man down the court and gets a reverse layup. Because they don’t put that on Twitter. The perception of him is that he’s dumb. And once you get labeled something in this league, it’s hard to shake it. But I’m sure he’s changing some people’s minds about what he’s doing as a player because he’s playing so well. It’s not just because he’s on a good team. You still got to put the work in. He’s out there catching those lobs, getting double-doubles, changing the game for us. He’s doing that because he put the work in, so respect that man.”

Durant really came at Shaq, especially in that second part and if we are being real, he deserves every bit of it. I know Shaq won four rings and has many accolades from the game but he was far from perfect himself.

Steve Kerr also joined into the discussion to say how the jokes and disrespect have affected JaVale.

It’s always good to see teammates and coaches sticking up for their guy. Now I wonder if Shaq will have a reply for Durant based on the way he pointed out all those things about his playing days.

Written by @IamJoeSports