After years of feuding, Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard and future Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal are partnering.
Howard plans to hire O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rogers, for his new representation, multiple sources told The Vertical. Rogers could file official paperwork with the National Basketball Players Association as soon as Friday, sources said. Rogers doesn't have any other NBA clients and established his reputation as tennis legend Andre Agassi's longtime agent.
O’Neal, a longtime public nemesis of Howard’s, had extensive conversations with the Houston center and sold him on the marketing of “Superman” and the representation of Rogers, sources said. The potential of marketing Howard and O’Neal in advertisements together played a role, too, sources said.
Howard and O’Neal progressed in the NBA with the same moniker of “Superman” – for which Shaq has publicly mocked Howard – and they both left the Orlando Magic for the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of their careers.
In his 12th NBA season, Howard, 30, has averaged 14.7 points and 12 rebounds in 57 games. The Rockets discussed trades involving Howard before the trade deadline, but ultimately kept him. Howard has an opt-out clause in his contract for next season.
After an illustrious 19-year NBA career that ended in 2011, O’Neal was nominated to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 9.
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