Shaquille O’Neal is a pretty savvy social media user and hence, quite used to pranks and practical jokes. However, he did not appreciate it when Kenny Smith tried pulling off a viral trend on him. A couple of years ago, the “I’m busy right now” prank peaked on TikTok and Instagram. Trying to be as playful as ever, the Houston Rockets legend was hoping to prank Shaq. However, the prank didn’t quite end up going how Smith would’ve liked it to go.
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The NBA on TNT crew had Kenny Smith call up Shaquille O’Neal and pull off this prank on him. Of course, Shaq being the social media aficionado that he is, knew what the prank was right away. Seemingly quite furious with the disturbance, the big man didn’t appear to be a huge fan of the prank. Here’s how their conversation went down:
Kenny Smith [after Facetiming Shaq]: “Yo, I’m busy right now. Can I call you back?”
Shaquille O’Neal: “What? Keep playing with me, Kenny, Imma knock you’re a** out.”
Shaq and Kenny have a solid bond sharing the Inside the NBA stage for over a decade. At no point was Shaq serious over the harmless joke, but he pretended to be angry which made it all the more hilarious.
Shaquille O’Neal constantly ‘threatens’ his colleagues
As threatening as it sounds, this is the way the Inside the NBA panel joke around with each other. While Shaquille O’Neal did threaten Smith, it wasn’t the first time that he has threatened his co-panelists. Charles Barkley is the member who usually receives such threats most of the time.
Four years ago, during the playoffs, Charles Barkley was hogging a segment. O’Neal was absolutely livid and warned Chuck, “I ain’t sensitive, I am going to knock your a** out.”
Back in 2018, during live TV, Barkley allowed his intrusive thoughts to win and went on to actually punch the Big Aristotle. Understandably, Barkley was scared of O’Neal, who he thought would retaliate, and hence decided to run away.
Even though the guys are constantly fighting and bickering with each other, it’s all fun and games. The fun element that these four personalities bring to NBA analysis is part of the reason why Inside the NBA is loved by viewers.
