The NBA Playoffs are heating up, and while the games have been intense, the action behind the TNT desk has been just as entertaining.
With Shaquille O’Neal missing his second straight broadcast due to other work commitments, TNT called in another former big man to fill the Diesel-sized gap. Dwight Howard slid into Shaq’s seat on Tuesday night’s broadcast of Inside the NBA, and let’s just say… things got hilarious real quick.
Howard, clearly excited to be back in the spotlight, settled in fast alongside Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson. But during some pre-show small talk, Howard made a blunder that had Barkley doing a double-take—and then calling him out live on air.
“I got a problem with you, Dwight,” Barkley said. “Guess what he asked me in the back? This dude asked me about Wilt Chamberlain!”
Yep. Dwight asked Sir Charles for some Wilt Chamberlain stories… apparently forgetting that Wilt retired in 1973—more than a decade before Barkley even entered the league in 1984.
Barkley, 62, couldn’t help but laugh (while looking slightly offended), adding: “Dude, how old do you think I am?!”
Howard immediately owned up to the blunder with a laugh of his own. “I thought I asked the question. Then I thought about it and was like, ‘Chuck ain’t that old!’ My bad.”
The crew cracked up, and Barkley eventually accepted the apology—but not before jokingly declaring their backstage conversation was over. “We’re done talking for the night,” he said with a smirk, slipping on his headphones.
It was all love in the end, and viewers got the kind of unscripted comedy that Inside the NBA is famous for.
And speaking of that, Shaq’s absence was definitely felt. The Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champ is the heart of the show’s mayhem—whether he’s feuding with Chuck, dropping “Shaq-isms,” or flashing that big Diesel grin. Since joining Inside the NBA back in 2011, Shaq has helped transform the show from highlight breakdowns into must-see basketball theater. Whether he’s giving serious analysis or just goofing off with his co-hosts, the big man brings unmatched charisma.
Shaq’s other commitments lately? He’s been busy with everything from DJ Diesel gigs to stepping into new roles off the court—including a recent surprise announcement that he’s studying to become “Professor O’Neal” and will be leaving the show in two years to teach business and mentorship at the college level. Only Shaq.
As for the actual playoff games: the Indiana Pacers closed out the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, winning the series 4-1 with a 114-105 victory. The Oklahoma City Thunder also grabbed a key win over the Denver Nuggets, 112-105, to take a 3-2 lead in that series.
No word yet on when Shaq will return to the TNT desk—but until then, the show must go on… and apparently, so do the laughs.