After former Los Angeles Lakers All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal publically criticized newly acquired Dwight Howard, Howard fired back with authority.

Howard called out Shaq on Thursday, responding to the former Lakers star comments that both Philadelphia 76ers' Andrew Bynum and the Brooklyn Nets' Brook Lopez are the best true big men in today's game.

"I don't care what Shaq says," Howard told reporters after practice. "Shaq played the game. He's done. He's gone. It's time to move on. He hated the fact that when he played, the older guys were talking about him and how he played. And now he's doing the exact same thing. Just let it go.

"There's no sense for him to be talking trash to me. He did his thing in the league. He was one of the most dominant players to ever play the game. Sit back and relax. You did yours. Your time is up. So I don't really care. He can say whatever he wants to say."

This is not the first time Shaq has been publically critical of Howard, just last month he told the Times-Picayune in New Orleans that he had "no reaction" to Howard joining the Lakers and said Howard still had much to prove.

"You have to care to have a reaction," O'Neal said. "I've got businesses to run. I always tell people that in order to step in my shoes you have big shoes to fill. For him, he's going to have to at least win three (titles) to get people's respect."

Related Articles:

Los Angeles Lakers News 2012: After Watching Howard Practice During Training Camp, Mike Brown Feels 'He's Back'

Does LeBron Have What It Takes To Surpass Jordan? Charles Barkley Seems To Think So

Los Angeles Lakers Rumors 2012: Is Brook Lopez Better At The Center Position Than Howard? Shaq Seems To Think So