Shaquille O’Neal revealed how Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan and Karl Malone got away with talking crazy to referees while trolling Chuck for kissing Dick Bavetta.
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Charles Barkley is indeed one of the most colourful characters in league history. The Sixers and Suns legend made All-Star teams for a decade and put in work as the league’s best forward for a long time.
But it’s after his retirement that he’s truly ascended to a whole another level of popularity. This is because Chuck loves to keep it real whenever he’s speaking in public.
This popularity of his has led to many people forgetting about a few controversies from his playing days. Chuck was especially quite belligerent while talking to referees, but he gets to hate on Draymond Green for doing the same.
Shaquille O’Neal trolls Charles Barkley, says Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Chuck got away with refs
Shaquille O’Neal discussed how NBA referees have always been meddlers on the Big Podcast with Shaq. Draymond Green checked in with a guest appearance and opened up about a number of topics of conversation regarding the Warriors’ 2021 NBA season.
Co-hosts Spice Adams and Nischelle Turner prodded Shaquille O’Neal and Draymond regarding referees in the NBA. Green, who’s contract-bound by NBA rules to not speak negatively about them, kept mum. So Nischelle turned to Shaq:
“Has it always been that way, Shaq, or have you seen it evolve with the refs too, at this point? Cuz remember when Chuck and Dick Bavetta, they would kiss and what it would be like?”
Shaq’s answer was partly for entertainment and had some elements of truth sprinkled in. He specifically referred to Chuck kissing Dick Bavetta at an All-Star Game before noting the same:
“Chuck likes kissing Dick, Chuck likes kissing Dick Bavetta! Speaking of Chuck, I’ve only seen 3 players get away with talking to the ref crazy. Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Michael Jordan. And Magic Johnson.”
“Those guys could say whatever they wanted to the refs. But when me and Draymond, we started talking to the refs, we’re bad guys! We get texts.”