Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley can sometimes get into it on TNT’s programming surrounding NBA games, but Tuesday night after the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics in Game 4, 112-99, was something different.
The two got testy -- even more so than usual -- as Barkley and Shaq traded insults.
Most notably, O’Neal went after the fact that Barkley only once made the NBA Finals, while Chuck told Shaq he had to ride the coattails of Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade to get his rings.
It felt at least partially real, especially if you watch Ernie Johnson’s reaction during the back-and-forth.
Via Twitter:
The Chuck vs. @SHAQ saga continues on #InsidetheNBA... 😂 pic.twitter.com/dPMXWc0XLL
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 24, 2017
Game 4 was more interesting, but a 30 minute special where Chuck and Shaq actually do move the furniture and throw down might draw more viewers than these playoffs.