Various shows cover the NBA, and then there is Inside the NBA. The TNT production has been a staple of the NBA experience for quite some time now and remains as entertaining as it ever was.
Advertisement
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley provide wholesome entertainment and nonsensical fun amidst the busy NBA schedule. The antics of the crew have been extremely well received, making them one of the most loved sets of hosts across television even.
And amidst the crew, the presence of the two NBA all-timers adds most to the entertainment quotient. Shaq and Chuck, with their non-stop banter and fights, have given birth to many a viral moment.
However, behind the veils of mockery and trash-talking, we may have missed out on a genuine friendship. In the run-up to Christmas, this time around, the bond shared by the duo has come to the forefront though.
What did Charles Barkley reveal about his equation with Shaquille O’Neal?
With the crew discussing the emotional bits of the Shaq documentary on HBO, Chuck decided it was time to let the world know how close Shaq and him really are. Barkley mentions how the bond between the two even goes back to the friendship shared by their mothers.
The Chuckster talks about how his mother and O’Neal’s mother are close friends who even take vacations together. However, Chuck jokingly spoke about how their vacation bills bothered him as he didn’t earn as much as Shaq for their careers.
“Mom, I don’t have that Shaquille O’Neal-type money,” Chuck described his financial situation to his mother. The $50 million Chuck is worth is sure to earn his mother a few vacations but still doesn’t hold a candle to the $400 million that Shaq holds.
The duo shared a heartfelt hug as Chuck enlightened the audience about their relationship. The two Hall of Fame big men hugging it out was definitely a wholesome moment that endeared to the entire NBA community.
A generational friendship marred with banter and championship taunts – is there a better description for the Chuck-Shaq equation?
Did Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley face off against each other in the NBA?
The two big men had quite a few years in the league where their careers overlapped. Between 1992 and 2000, the two faced off on 19 occasions, with only 4 of them coming in the Playoffs.
Their overlapping years involved an upstart Shaq facing off against a veteran in Chuck. And the loud, powerful upstart held a winning record against the championship-hungry veteran, 11-8.
O’Neal and his Lakers even came in the way of Barkley’s Rockets in what arguably was Chuck’s last legitimate attempt at a ring. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t to be for the Chuckster.
Shaq went on to win 4 championships, but Barkley wasn’t an obstacle in his path in those runs. Their contests resumed a few years later when Shaq joined his old pal in the studio for Inside the NBA.
