Throwback: When Charles Barkley Falling Asleep on National Television Had NBA Legends in Splits

Advait Jajodia | 13/08/2023
Years Before His $200,000,000 TNT Deal, Charles Barkley Falling Asleep On National Television Had NBA Legends In Splits

Charles Barkley and his friends Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, make the show NBA on TNT must-watch TV because the seamless banter between the group always manages to crack us up. However, while the NBA Great is often intentionally funny, there are times when he does it without trying. In one such instance, the Chuckster fell asleep on national television, inviting relentless trolling from his peers.

More than 10 years ago, Charles Barkley found himself to be the butt of a joke while doing a show with other former NBA stars. During a segment of the show Open Court, Chuck was caught sleeping on camera on national television.

As seen in the NBA’s YouTube video, the footage of Barkley sleeping had everyone laughing hysterically. Reggie Miller went a step ahead and started imitating Barkley slowly dozing off, which further prompted laughter in the group. Chris Webber and Kenny Smith were left laughing to their wit’s end.

As embarrassing as the moment may have been for Barkley, this wasn’t the only time he fell asleep on set. During an episode of NBA on TNT from seven years ago, a camera on the set caught Barkley having a nap with his head down.

As expected, all three of his co-panelists couldn’t stop trolling the Phoenix Suns legend for his regrettable action.

Even when he isn’t trying, Charles Barkley manages to crack people up.

Barkley and Shaq caught up on some sleep together during the 2021 playoffs

Individuals as busy as Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal may not be able to get a lot of sleep at night. However, they compensate on other occasions. Sleeping during the course of a game could be considered slightly unprofessional. Still, the two legends don’t hesitate to do it.

During the 2021 postseason, Shaq first trolled his co-host for sleeping during Game 1 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Washington Wizards contest. Later, Barkley went on to catch Shaq in the act amid the New York Knicks-Atlanta Hawks contest.

It’s hard not to love these two icons quarrel and indulge in their friendly banter. Undoubtedly, that is a big part of the reason why Inside the NBA is so highly rated as a basketball TV show.

Post Edited By: Satagni Sikder
Charles Barkley

About the author

Avatar photo

Advait Jajodia

Advait Jajodia, an NBA and Tennis journalist for The SportsRush, has had a passion for both sports for over a decade. His admiration for Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Rafael Nadal pushed him to gain a profound understanding of the sports. With a background as a multi-sport athlete, Advait uses his experience on the hardwood and the court to offer insightful analysis. Over four years of dedicated sports journalism has equipped the 22-year-old with a unique perspective, reflected in his prolific portfolio of 4,700+ articles.

Don’t miss these