Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley are two of the most entertaining sports analysts. The two are part of a team of four with Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson that makes the best panel in all the sports media. And a big part of their entertainment factor is mocking the life out of each other. Shaq calls Chuck ‘fat’ all the time, and the Round Mound of Rebounds calls The Diesel ‘ugly’ every other day. But something changed Sunday.
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Before Game 3 started between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, Inside the NBA crew sat in the stands in Kaseya Arena for the pre-game show. To everyone’s surprise, O’Neal complemented Barkley for shredding weight and said he looked “delicious.”
Shaquille O’Neal calls Charles Barkley “delicious” after losing weight
The whole TNT crew was in the Miami mood. Shaquille O’Neal asked Ernie Johnson permission to compliment Charles Barkley. Ernie clearly did not know what was happening and obliged. Shaq, having seen Chuck shirtless by the pool, earlier in the day, surprised and made the rest of his team blush while calling the Sixers legend delicious.
“Chuck I saw you at the pool today with your shirt off, and boy, you look delicious,” Shaquille O’Neal said on live TV.
After blushing and soaking in the compliments by Shaq, Barkley discussed he had lost so much weight that he plans to come shirtless on the show.
The Chuckster hilariously said the whole country wants to see it. This worried Ernie Johnson, who brought up his recommendation to wear a shirt on the show multiple times. Watch the hysterical exchange in the following YouTube clip by House of Highlights.
Barkley must be proud of himself after taking the doctor’s advice seriously to lose weight. The man has self-admittedly gained 100 pounds since his retirement, after getting his hip replacements, and is on a path to shred it again.
Shaq has always fat-shamed Chuck
The Big Aristotle faced a lot of criticism in his playing days for weighing north of 400 pounds after coming into the league around 100 pounds lighter. Even after retirement, he has always been up and down on his fitness.
However, he never looked as bloated as Chuck looked a few months back. And so Shaq, who is now in good shape, has always been mocking him for it, probably still carrying the grudge of every critique back in the day.
Alas! If Chuck does lose some more weight, we’d have lesser things to laugh about. But let’s not be selfish and appreciate the man’s dedication.
