By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard fired back at Shaquille O'Neal, stating he doesn't care anymore about the Diesel's comments regarding who's the best center in the NBA.

The 26-year-old Howard believed O'Neal has no more business with the team and it's time for the former Lakers center to move on.

"I don't care what Shaq says," Howard told reporters after Friday's practice at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, California. "Shaq played the game. He's done. He's gone. It's time to move on."

O'Neal, who has been a critic of Howard ever since, ranked Howard behind Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez and Philadelphia 76ers' big man Andrew Bynum because of his pick-and-roll style of play.

"...I'm going to go with Brook Lopez and Andrew Bynum because they play with their back to the basket," said O'Neal during a roundtable discussion with fellow TNT analyst on NBA TV's Open Court.

Shaq later corrected that it was not Robin but his twin brother Brook Lopez.

Howard's reaction to O'Neal comments was the latest of an ongoing verbal war between two dominant centers.

The Lakers are planning to retire Shaq's purple-and-gold jersey in a game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 2.

He shouldn't expect a note of congratulations from Howard, however.

 

Lakers Star Dwight Howard Brushes Off Shaq's Criticism