Inside the NBA has been getting a little creative for their pregame segments in these Conference Finals. During Game 4 of the series, they had Stephen Curry on the show. During Game 5, it was Patrick Mahomes. Tonight Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith hosted Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers. With an NHL player in the house, Charles thought of hockey rules and how fun it would be to hit Shaq and get only a two-minute timeout.
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Shaquille O’Neal, as we know it, never backs away from a fight, especially when it’s against Charles Barkley. Shaq had the crew scared as he danced his way over to where Chuck was sitting. Here’s what happened next:
Charles Barkley wants to knock Shaquille O’Neal out
The Florida Panthers won the Conference Finals in the NHL, meaning they’re in the Finals to compete for the Stanley Cup. With Game 6 of the Heat-Celtics back in Miami, the guys extended an invite to the Panthers’ right winger. Now Chuck is a huge hockey fan, and follows the sport religiously. On the other hand, Shaq admitted he only watches the sport for the intense physicality and the fights.
The crew was discussing with Matthew how he went to the same high school as Jayson Tatum. Out of nowhere, Charles Barkley talked about his desire to hit Shaq. Chuck said,
“I would love to knock the hell out of you and only get two minutes. I might get a five-minute major, but I would love to slap the hell out of you on the show and they say, ‘Chuck you not gon be on the air for two minutes'”
Shaquille O’Neal got up and acted like he was ice-skating toward Chuck. Matthew joked about how those ice-skating moves looked like his dance moves.
Of course, Shaq had to end it with a warning for Chuck. He said, “Better watch out Chuck. I’m nice on ice!”
In case you’re wondering about the two-minute and five-minute comments, in hockey, they give you a two-minute timeout for a minor penalty. A major penalty requires you to exit the floor for five minutes without replacement.
While they may just hear jokes about fighting, but as long as Chuck and Shaq are on the same set, you never know when jokes will turn into a brawl.
