The more things change, the more they stay the same. Dwight Howard may no longer be with the Los Angeles Lakers, but Shaq still loves to rip on him.

Speaking at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Shaq leveled Howard with some criticism for leaving the Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets.

“It was expected,” Shaq said. “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.”

Phil Jackson similarly commented on Howard leaving, saying the move “left a distaste in Lakerland.”

Reflection on DHoward’s exodus. He left a distaste in Lakerland The Lakers will be fine. Pau fits MDA’s style of Off-it was about the future

— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) July 7, 2013

What DH brings to the game is power and D. This past year didn’t show due it to rehab and confusion. If he is better of an Astro, so be it.

— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) July 7, 2013

While the disses are funny, it’s just piling on in a weak way. Houston was a much better fit for Howard. The Lakers are Kobe’s team and he refuses to give that up. The Lakers will be worse off for keeping Bryant as the center of the team rather than building around Howard, who is younger and better than the aging Kobe, who is coming off an Achilles injury. Why would Dwight want to deal with Kobe’s crap the next three seasons instead of going to a better team that will appreciate him more?

Recall that Shaq has had a beef with Howard for years. It started when Shaq got pissed at Dwight for stealing the “Superman” nickname. Then they exchanged barbs over who was flopping when they played each other. Shaq continued to put Dwight down, saying he faces no competition. He even laughably said last season that Brook Lopez was better than Dwight. Shaq has too much hate for Howard for his comments about the center to be taken seriously.

Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal have never had anything nice to say about one another. Comparisons between the two because of their career paths come naturally, and neither big man seems to like being compared to his counterpart. Most recently, Shaq called Howard out for not being mean enough on the floor.

“He’s too nice,” O’Neal told The Max and Marcellus Show on ESPNLA 710 Tuesday. “I’m a connoisseur of giggling and playing and all that and making you laugh and playing with the fans, but when I cross that line, I’m ready to tear your face off. I don’t care who it is. You could put one of my aunts or uncles out there, and I’m going to give him these elbows in their chest and I’m going to throw it down in their face. That’s what you have to do. … He’s just too nice. If I was him, I would get into the same mood I was in.”

Kobe Bryant said something very similar about Howard during the season when he mentioned how Shaq used to be a goofball off the court but an a-hole on it. Shaq has been critical of Howard in the past on numerous occasions, but he insists he only does it to inspire Dwight to become a better player.

“I think it’s my duty to help this young man become one of the best big men in the league,” O’Neal said. “I’m from the old school. I’m not doing it nicely. I’m pushing buttons, I’m talking about you and I’m doing it like this. … I think it’s my job as a former big man to get him to play up to par.

“When I was in L.A., Kareem and Wilt never spoke to me. They never said two things to me. I took that as a, ‘OK, you all don’t think I’m as good as you yet. Well, watch this.’ That’s what it was — motivation. Everything I say should be taken as motivation. He’s the best big man in the league, and it’s my job to make sure he plays that way. Period.”

Howard does like to goof around a lot, which can give off the impression that he doesn’t take the game seriously enough. Some players just prefer to approach the game with a looser attitude, but Howard would look a lot better doing so with a championship ring on his finger.