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“Charles Barkley says the dumbest things”: Shaquille O’Neal hilariously walks off the set of NBAonTNT after Chuck compares James Harden to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan

Samir Mehdi
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“Charles Barkley says the dumbest things”: Shaquille O’Neal hilariously walks off the set of NBAonTNT after Chuck compares James Harden to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan

Shaquille O’Neal seems to have had enough of Charles Barkley as he almost walked off the set of NBAonTNT after a wild comparison. 

Upon James Harden’s arrival to the Brooklyn Nets, there were primarily two factors that fans and analysts such as Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley were worried about: how good can a defense be with Kyrie, Durant, and Harden on the floor and how can 3 isolation scorers share one ball throughout a 48 minute period. 

After having scored 141 points on the Boston Celtics in Game 4, it’s safe to say that three iso-heavy scorers like the aforementioned trio can co-exist with no problem. Kevin Durant scored a game-high 42 points, Kyrie Irving chipped in with 39 after a Game 3 dud, and James Harden walked into a casual 23 and 18 game.

Also read: Jeff van Gundy hilariously reacts to LeBron James dunking with his head at the rim for Lakers vs Suns in Game 4: “I remember touching the net for the first time in my junior year of college”

Despite the fact that the ball does remain stagnant at many times during a game, with Harden doing his patented, low-to-the-floor, between the legs dribbles and then stepping back for a 3 or driving into the lane, he has made sure that if he does not like the shot he’s getting, he will pass to guys like Landry Shamet or Joe Harris. 

Shaquille O’Neal hilariously calls out Charles Barkley for making a wild comparison. 

During the halftime report on NBAonTNT, Chuck seemed to have been enamored by James Harden’s one-on-one skills to a point where he claimed the 2018 MVP may be the best he’s ever seen. Upon hearing this, Shaquille O’Neal immediately started to scratch his head in disbelief and call out the Suns legend for putting him in the same breath as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

Also read: “You live long enough, you become the villain”: Mike Conley hilariously quotes Alfred the Butler from the Dark Knight while praising Grizzlies star Ja Morant

Of course, this back-and-forth banter led to yet another hilarious moment shared between Shaq and Chuck as they both disagreed on who the greatest isolation scorer is. 

The NBA has boasted a plethora of gifted 1v1 scorers. Legends from the past such as George Gervin and Julius Erving to guys who play today such as Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Trae Young have all contributed a ton to how you can break down the opposing defender. 

One point that Charles Barkley did make to Shaquille O’Neal that rings true is the fact that the way the game is officiated today, the ‘Beard’ is perhaps the most lethal 1-on-1 scorer in the league. This is due to the way referees have been calling fouls for the past decade or so. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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