Shaquille O'Neal has publicly defended his longtime friend Tom Brady against criticism from Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy. In a recent interview with Page Six, O'Neal called Portnoy an "idiot" and suggested he would be pleased if someone, specifically Brady, were to physically confront him.
"Dave talks a lot," O'Neal 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's remarks came after Portnoy described Brady's post-NFL career as "cringey" and "lame" during a "Wake Up Barstool" segment. Portnoy criticized Brady's recent activities, including appearing with Logan Paul and participating in skits at Michael Rubin's Fanatics Fest, suggesting these actions were damaging his legacy.
O'Neal, a retired NBA superstar, asserted that Brady "knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s doing it so well." He added, "I try to be nice, [but] you can tell him I said that," referring to Portnoy. "idiots" like Portnoy, O'Neal believes, have opinions that "never matter."
This is not the first public exchange between O'Neal and Portnoy. In 2023, O'Neal responded to Portnoy's criticism of LSU basketball player Angel Reese by tweeting, "And so is your mother." However, the two reportedly had a cordial conversation about the stock market when they encountered each other at UFC 314, according to a 2025 podcast episode.
O'Neal and Brady have maintained a friendship for years. Following Netflix's "Roast of Tom Brady" in 2025, O'Neal had Brady on his podcast. At the time, O'Neal expressed concern that Brady might be upset by the jokes, but Brady reportedly reassured him that he enjoyed being teased.
O'Neal was promoting his new true crime series, "Game Day Murders," during the interview. He described himself as a "true crime junkie," stating that he enjoys the genre because "everybody has that detective in them." The series is set to premiere on ID and stream on HBO Max on Monday, July 27, at 10 p.m. ET.