Shaquille O'Neal wants Dave Portnoy 'punched in face' after Tom Brady rant
Shaquille O'Neal wants Dave Portnoy 'punched in face' after Tom Brady rant
Matthew Neschis Sat, July 25, 2026 at 11:35 PM UTC
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Shaquille O'Neal expressed hope that someone punches Dave Portnoy in the face (Image: Getty)
Shaquille O'Neal declared that he would be "glad if somebody punches" Dave Portnoy in the face after the Barstool Sports founder launched a scathing attack against Tom Brady.
On a recent episode of Wake Up Barstool, Portnoy - who warned that LeBron James is going to get "booed out of Philly" - suggested that Brady is tarnishing his legacy with his post-retirement behavior. Since hanging up the cleats, the former quarterback has competed in a flag football tournament, flirted with the idea of joining the WWE, and launched a bitter rivalry with Logan Paul.
"This to me is one of the great downfalls of an icon, with Tom Brady. And it's a legacy that is being lame-ified," Portnoy said. "You don't want to see him mixed up in lowbrow TikTok flag football leagues in Saudi Arabia or whatever it is. Everything about him is cringey right now to me."
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Portnoy's comments didn't sit well with O'Neal, who swiftly rushed to the defense of Brady. "Dave talks a lot," the NBA legend told Page Six. "He's one of those lucky guys who had a lot of success. So, he thinks his point of view is important."
O'Neal even expressed hope that someone would physically confront Portnoy over his remarks, adding: "I'd be glad if somebody punches him in the face. And I hope it's Tom [Brady].
Tom Brady has teased joining the WWE since retiring from the NFL (Image: Getty)
"I try to be nice, [but] you can tell him I said that," O'Neal continued, suggesting that "idiots" like Portnoy hold views that carry little weight.
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Portnoy admitted that he was blindsided by O'Neal's threats, writing on X: "I didn't see that one coming. I like Shaq. He's dead wrong here though. Like dead wrong."
At Fanatics Fest in New York City last week, Brady hinted that he's awaiting an invitation from WWE president Nick Khan to "get in the mix." He further intensified his rivalry with Paul, delivering a slap to the WWE superstar's face before being separated by Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
In February, Brady criticized Paul's career during an appearance on his Impaulsive podcast. When the influencer - who has become a prominent villain and full-time performer on the Raw brand - suggested he competes at the "highest level," the seven-time Super Bowl champion replied: "No, you're not the level. You're a good athlete, but when I'm thinking of Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham, Justin Jefferson. It's cute. I love WWE, it's very cute, but honestly this is like real football, this is real competition."
In the months that followed, Paul and Brady have done little to hide their mutual disdain while apparently laying the groundwork for a possible WWE confrontation. The athletes' rivalry spilled onto the field during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic when Brady threw a football at Paul after the whistle had blown. A heated verbal exchange followed, though the situation was eventually resolved.
The confrontation became physical at Fanatics Fest when Brady open-handed slapped Paul, with Towns swiftly stepping in before matters could escalate further.
Barely 48 hours after their heated exchange, Brady and Paul encountered each other once more at Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium. In viral footage circulating on X, Brady is shown giving Paul the middle finger, with Paul reciprocating the offensive gesture. Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin eventually stepped in as peacemaker, restraining Paul and tapping him on the chest.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
