If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Shaquille O'Neal has paid Dwight Howard a huge compliment.
USA Today is reporting that O'Neal is waffling over comments he said after Howard publicly announced he was leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets.
Howard is infamous for his wishy-washiness, from his alleged backstabbing of former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and then trying to put his arm around Van Gundy during a news conference in 2012 to telling the Lakers that he still hadn't made up shortly after news of his decision to go to Houston became public on July 5.
When Howard's decision came out, O'Neal was one of Howard's harshest critics. Both played for the Orlando Magic before leaving to play for the Lakers. O'Neal even accuses Howard of "stealing" his "Superman" moniker - as if "Superman" was Shaq's in the first place.
''It was expected,'' Shaq was quoted as saying. ''We've all been in L.A., and not a whole lot of people can handle being under the bright lights. Everybody wants to do it, but when you get there, there are certain pressures. I think it was a safe move for him to go to a little town like Houston. That's right, little town. I said it.''
O'Neal waffled a very different tune on Wednesday.
"I love Houston. I live in Houston," said O'Neal, according to USA Today, referring to the home he owns in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston. "I meant that Houston is a smaller city, a smaller market than L.A.
"... I meant that it's a smaller move for him. (There is) not that much pressure in Houston. Well, there's a little bit of pressure. Just not as much pressure as playing for L.A."
Shaq didn't stop there; he even offered a compliment to Howard when asked .
"He should dominate," said O'Neal. "He's got the best body in the game."
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