After the Cavaliers beat the Celtics in Game 4 on Tuesday night, the NBA on TNT crew talked about the next game, per usual, except for some reason — maybe the producers asked for it, maybe Shaq was in a weird mood, maybe they were all just hungry — Shaq and Charles Barkley really got into it for a minute.
It started with Shaq telling Charles what we’ve heard before: that Charles can’t talk about championship teams because he has never won one himself. From there, Chuck hit back, saying Shaq rode Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and others’ coattails to get his rings, and food was almost thrown. At one point, Ernie Johnson asks, “Why did that get so personal?”
These guys love to roast each other, so I doubt this was anything too serious, but it was something. A transcript is below.
The Chuck vs. @SHAQ saga continues on #InsidetheNBA…
pic.twitter.com/dPMXWc0XLL
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 24, 2017
Shaq: Chuck, you have no idea what we’re talking about because you’ve only been to the Finals once.
Charles: I wasn’t riding on Dwyane Wade’s and Kobe’s coattails.
Shaq: It doesn’t matter, Chuck. I got the same thing you got and I passed you up 10 years ago.
Charles: If I had been riding on Kobe’s coattails and Dwyane Wade’s and Alonzo Mourning’s too, I forgot about him, and Rick Fox.
Shaq: People question why you’re in the Hall of Fame anyway, bum.
Ernie: Why did that get so personal when we’re talking about Game 5?
Shaq: Because Chuck keeps interrupting me. Don’t interrupt me, Chuck, or I’m gonna punch you right in your face, I’m telling you.
Charles: If you hit me, we’re gonna be moving some furniture. I’m gonna throw one of these chicken wings at your fat ass.
Shaq: You gonna do what? (holds up chicken wing)
Then, Shaq shared an Instagram video of Kenny Smith, Ernie and Charles eating, and he called Charles “the fat boy.”
Just another ordinary night with the NBA on TNT crew.