mobile app bar

“Whatever Julius Randle’s name is”: Shaq hilariously confuses Knicks superstar with Grizzlies legend Zach Randolph on NBAonTNT

Samir Mehdi
Published

“Whatever Julius Randle’s name is”: Shaq hilariously confuses Knicks superstar with Grizzlies legend Zach Randolph on NBAonTNT

Shaq takes to NBAonTNT to talk about the New York Knicks but confuses Julius Randle’s name with former Grizzlie, Zach Randolph. 

it seems as though Shaq has been placed onto the NBAonTNT set to confuse his cast members while simultaneously providing viewers with hilarious content. Everything from his tiffs with Charles Barkley to trying to congratulate Giannis Antetokounmpo in Greek, Shaq has always intentionally and, in some cases, unintentionally proven to be the funniest NBA analyst on TV. 

In a segment with his castmates, Candace Parker, Dwyane Wade, and Adam Lefkoe, the Lakers legend deled deep into the state of the New York Knicks. The Knicks, led by Julius Randle who’s having an MVP-esque season, are currently in a home-court advantage spot in the Playoffs out East.

Also read: “We’ll have to see in another 50 years”: Russell Westbrook is confident that no one will break his triple double record for another half a century at the least

This unprecedented success could be attributed to a bevy of factors all playing out simultaneously. Derrick Rose’s spark plug scoring off the bench, their top 5 defense in the league thanks to Coach Thibs, or the fact that both Julius Randle and RJ Barrett have progressed immensely; the Knicks are back, according to Stephen A. Smith. 

Shaq hilariously gets Julius Randle mixed up with Zach Randolph. 

In this same segment discussing the New York Knicks, Shaq adds yet another hilarious blunder to his list of mix-ups on NBAonTNT. This time, the 4x champ confuses Julius Randle with Zach Randolph and claims Z-Bo was just on his mind at the time. 

“They’re (Knicks) playing well and Thibodeaux’s doing a great job and Zach Randolph is playing MVP caliber basketball.” Adam Lefkow would interuppt him by telling him know that it’s Julius Randle, not Randolph, to which Shaq replies, “Whatever his name is.”

 Also read: “I’m the best playmaker in the NBA”: Russell Westbrook sings his praise amidst incredible triple double run with the Wizards

This may be taken as disrespect towards the Knicks All-Star by some but with the lighthearted nature of the conversation, this may genuinely have been a mix-up by Shaq, who could’ve been thinking of Zach Randolph at the time. 

Regardless of whether or not Shaquille O’Neal gets his name right or not, it won’t stop Randle from wreaking havoc in the postseason. Having homecourt advantage in New York is a more potent advantage than most people think, considering the rabid nature of Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

instagram-icon

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

Read more from Samir Mehdi

Share this article