Charles Barkley has been on the NBA on TNT broadcast as a consummate performer ever since hanging up his shoes in 2000. Shaquille O’Neal and the Chuckster were fierce opponents on the court, but since retiring, they have forged an incredible bond.
Since 2011, they have been on Inside the NBA together, and on live television, their chemistry is unmatched by anything a spectator could ask for. It never gets old to hear Barkley call out Shaq’s terrible shots and Shaq brag about his four championships to make a point.
2019 saw the pair compete in a one-on-one match inside the studio, and Sir Charles surprised everyone by taking on the huge man. Before Barkley retired and Shaq won his first title in 1999, tensions between the two on the floor were nasty.
Barkley got fouled in the paint during a contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. Chuck, who was enraged, grabbed the ball and flung it at Big Diesel, who then punched him.
Their mothers had to call them later in the locker room to settle things after a significant argument between the two broke out on live television. Following their mother’s advice, Chuck and Shaq went to dinner together that evening to make up for lost time.
Shaquille O’Neal was duped by Charles Barkley with a trick shot over him
Adam Sandler visited Inside the NBA in the studio in 2019 as their Hollywood guest. A one-on-one match between Barkley and Shaq was shown in a segment with the actor from the program. Chuck faced off against Shaq in the paint while holding the ball in his hand and facing the rim.
He made the shot with his left hand after three dribbles without even glancing at the goal. Call it a lucky break or the assuredness of a renowned player, but the ball found its way in. In addition to being defeated by Barkley, Shaq was duped by a deft trick shot.
The cast and the hosts all laughed loudly at the shot. Following that, Shaq faced up against a considerably smaller Kenny Smith, who was a little taken aback by Chucks’ trick shot. Perhaps in order to make up for the earlier error, Shaq scored on the two-time NBA Champion.
When the 76ers legend returned, Smith remarked, “First time I’ve seen you shoot in 20 years.” The 1993 MVP had previously admitted during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he hadn’t played basketball since his retirement.
Shaq was defeated by Mighty Chuck in a 405-pound bench press
Chuck and Shaq have faced off against one another countless times. Things were obviously very competitive when they were taking place on an NBA court. But whenever they have faced off outside of the court, it has always produced a funny moment.
When a movie promotion required a bench press competition, O’Neal and his friend Dwyane the Rock Johnson and Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg’s Charles competed against one another. The Round Mound of Rebound and the Big Aristotle both attempted and successfully performed lifts of 135 pounds, 225 pounds, and 315 pounds in the first three rounds.
Anyone would assume, given his size, that O’Neal would succeed in this endeavor. But the audience was anticipating a surprise. The four-time NBA champion was humiliated by the former 76ers great, who benched 405 pounds while the big man was unable to do so.
Later, it was discovered that Barkley’s last two tenure involved using phony weights. Even yet, he continued to refer to Shaq as a “sore loser.”
