The NBA Playoffs are currently going in full swing. The first round is nearly done/halfway through for a lot of teams. The Sixers swept the Nets and are waiting for their opponents. Six other teams are up 3-1, waiting to finish their series soon. Kings-Warriors are 2-2, with Game 5 tomorrow. Not only have the Playoffs given us brilliant basketball, but also a ton of TNT content. Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith have been on our TVs almost every night/every other night.
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While the Playoffs are on, we’re also slowly getting the names of the winners of several awards. Mike Brown was awarded Coach of the Year. De’Aaron Fox was adjudged NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year. Yesterday Lauri Markkanen won NBA’s Most Improved Player honors.
Tonight the Inside crew announced the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley quip while talking to Paolo Banchero
After an incredilbe rookie season, the panel of voters decided Paolo Banchero is the most deserving of the honors. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.5 blocks per game. Winning these honors, Banchero became the third player in Magic history to win ROTY honors.
While talking to Banchero, the Inside crew shared the other two to have won it. They were Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 and Mike Miller in 2001. Looking at their old photos, Charles Barkley found it only right to talk about how different Shaq looked now. He said,
“Man what happened to you? You used to be skinny.”
Shaquille O’Neal instantly replied with,
“I’m skinnier than you, that’s all I need to be.”
Chuck: “Man what happened to you? You used to be skinny.”
Shaq: “I’m skinnier than you, that’s all I need to be.” 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/9rspQYKmWs— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 25, 2023
These two never stop, and well that’s part of the reason why people love them so much.
Did Charles win ROTY?
Charles Barkley was drafted in the league in 1984. It was the legendary draft which had names like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, John Stockton and more. Even though Chuck averaged 14.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while playing all 82 games, he couldn’t possibly keep up with His Airness.
Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 82 games. He not only won the ROTY honors, but was also named an All-Star in his very first year in the league!
