Editor’s Note: We held off on this post until today, so we could stay up late last night (as of this posting date) to see the debut of “Inside the NBA” on it’s new TV home, ESPN. The show and the crew did not disappoint. Ernie, Shaq, Kenny and Sir Charles were all back, all with big smiles on their faces. Even the set looked the same, a few different colors, but the same big video wall, same desk, etc. What a great night!
As for the game on around “inside,” it was a great opening night for the Dallas Mavs and San Antonio Spurs. Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama was, frankly, amazing. That led to quite the funny and interesting chat-fest between Shaq and Charles.
During the show’s first broadcast on ESPN, Shaq found himself in the middle of a classic on-air debate after Victor Wembanyama’s monster opening-night performance lit up the league.
The 7-foot-4 Spurs phenom kicked off his third NBA season by dropping 40 points in a statement win over the Dallas Mavericks — a performance that instantly had fans and analysts talking about his place among the game’s great big men. Naturally, that meant one thing: comparisons to Shaq.
Charles Barkley, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, jumped right in.
“Me and Kenny just having a debate,” Barkley said on air. “Forty or 45 — Wemby against Shaq.”
Kenny Smith added his two cents, saying, “We also said if you had a draft of all the greatest big men all-time …”
And that’s when Barkley couldn’t resist throwing a little playful jab. “Yeah, but I think Shaq slides down that list now.”
Of course, Shaq wasn’t going to let that one slide.
“You know what’s crazy about you all?” Shaq shot back with a grin. “I wasn’t known for defense … I’m not known for defense. But you know what I am known for eating? French fries and French toast.”
The entire studio cracked up — and the line instantly became classic Inside the NBA material. It’s peak Shaq: part self-deprecating humor, part brand genius, and 100% entertainment.
And honestly, those two breakfast favorites might be some of the only things Shaq hasn’t endorsed yet. The Hall of Famer’s business empire already stretches across restaurants, beverages, car dealerships, fitness centers, tech startups, and even AI platforms. Don’t be surprised if “Shaq’s French Toast” or a new Big Chicken breakfast menu item suddenly appears — he’s always one step ahead when it comes to turning jokes into opportunity.
The Inside the NBA crew’s playful debate also highlighted the generational bridge between legends like O’Neal and rising stars like Wembanyama. Shaq himself has praised Wemby in the past, saying the young Frenchman is “the future of the league” and “a problem for everybody.” But that doesn’t mean the Big Diesel is ready to hand over the crown just yet.
While Barkley and Smith love poking fun, most fans know the truth: even in a hypothetical matchup, prime Shaq would have been nearly impossible to stop. Wemby may be the future — but Shaq defined dominance for an entire generation.
Still, the back-and-forth was the perfect way to open Inside the NBA’s new era at ESPN: sharp basketball talk, big laughs, and Shaq right in the middle of it all.
As the season goes on, one thing’s for sure — no matter how good Wemby gets, no one’s taking Shaq’s spot as the game’s biggest personality.