3 Years Before Charles Barkley Punched Shaquille O’Neal, Lakers Legend Hilariously Licked His Head On National TV

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal share a storied relationship, having co-hosted TNT’s “Inside The NBA” for an impressive 13 consecutive years. During their time together, the dynamic duo has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, from tears of laughter to the occasional ‘friendly’ altercation. Their on-air banter often goes beyond professional boundaries, providing viewers with entertaining and unfiltered exchanges. One memorable incident occurred in 2017 when Barkley jokingly punched O’Neal in the chest during a live broadcast, sparking uproarious laughter. However, it’s worth noting that three years prior, O’Neal had initiated the theatrics by playfully kissing and licking Barkley’s head on national television.

This playful and sometimes childlike behavior is a key differentiator for the show “Inside The NBA,” setting it apart from other sports media programming. Barkley and O’Neal, both Hall of Famers, not only entertain fans but also earn a substantial income. While specific details of O’Neal’s contract remain undisclosed, he reportedly makes a handsome $10,000,000 per year before taxes. On the other hand, Barkley recently extended his contract with Warner Brothers, securing an estimated $100,000,000 to $200,000,000 over the next decade. It’s worth noting that both Barkley and O’Neal have the option to opt out of their contracts before they expire, adding further intrigue to their future endeavors.

Flashback to when Shaq licked Charles’ head on national television during Game 4 of 2014 NBA finals

Game 4 of the NBA finals isn’t necessarily the best place to fool around. But that never deterred TNT host and Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal from having some fun. In 2014, Charles joined the ‘Starters’ as an analyst for the 2014 NBA final where a LeBron-led Miami Heat squad looked to find a way back into the series. As Charles was providing his pre-game analysts he was ‘greeted’ by his TNT Co-host Shaquille O’Neal. But what Shaq did next was hilarious and borderline ‘unhygienic.’

Shaq not only photo-bombed Charles as he gave his report but decided to kiss and lick his co-host’s head multiple times before walking off camera. Though Charles didn’t say much, he did giggle saying, “Didn’t it suddenly get uglier here“. But such behavior isn’t necessarily uncommon for the duo as they have both pranked each other on multiple occasions while the whole world watched.

Charles Barkley makes his frustration towards his TNT  co-hosts Shaq and Kenny known

Everything Charles Barkley seems funny. Even if it is complaining about his colleagues Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.

During an episode of ‘The Steamroom Podcast,’ Charles let people know that working with Shaq and Kenny wasn’t necessarily ‘the easiest thing in the world.‘ Though the future of the crew seems to be rather secure, news of Barkley leaving the show has been surfacing more often recently.

With Barkley having the option to opt out, it would be interesting to see if Warner Brothers are able to keep the crew together for the foreseeable future.