The 2024-25 NBA Playoffs are heating up fast, but not everyone is loving how the action is being dished out—especially not Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. The iconic Inside the NBA crew lit up the TV broadcast schedule like a shot clock buzzer when they saw which games were lined up for Thursday night. Let’s just say… they were not impressed.
So what’s got the big guys all riled up?
According to the official slate, TNT will air the New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons matchup at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m. Solid teams, sure—but there’s a major omission that has Shaq and Chuck fuming.
Game 3 of the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers series—arguably the best matchup of the first round so far—is nowhere to be seen on TNT. Instead, it’s been relegated to NBA TV. And as you’d expect, Barkley couldn’t let that slide.
“Are y’all serious right now… y’all got the best series going on NBA TV,” Chuck said, throwing serious side-eye at whoever made the call.
Shaq, never one to miss a tag-team moment, quickly co-signed.
“Can we make a trade? That Thunder game for that Nuggets game? I’m with you, Chuck,” he said with a shake of his head.
And they might have a point.
The Thunder have dominated the Grizzlies so far—winning Game 1 by a ridiculous 131-80 and cruising through Game 2 with a 118-99 win. That series has been anything but close.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets-Clippers showdown? It’s been edge-of-your-seat basketball. Denver squeaked out Game 1 with a 112-110 win, only for L.A. to answer back in Game 2, 105-102. These teams are trading blows like it’s the Western Conference Finals, not the first round.
NBA fans seem to agree with the TNT crew. Social media lit up after the broadcast schedule was announced, with many fans echoing Shaq and Chuck’s confusion—and a few calling for the NBA to make “real-time trades” in the schedule just like O’Neal suggested.
Last night’s scores only added more fuel to the fire. While some games were clear blowouts, others delivered pure playoff drama:
- Milwaukee Bucks 109, Indiana Pacers 102 – Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 31 points and 12 boards to help Milwaukee bounce back and tie the series 1-1.
- Phoenix Suns 115, Dallas Mavericks 110 – Kevin Durant hit clutch back-to-back threes in the final minute to seal the win and put the Suns up 2-0.
- Miami Heat 98, Cleveland Cavaliers 96 – Jimmy Butler with a vintage “Playoff Jimmy” moment to win it at the buzzer.
As for Shaq, he’s staying vocal, staying funny, and staying on top of what really matters: good basketball and even better TV. Let’s hope the folks in charge are listening.
Because if there’s one thing we know—when Shaq’s not happy, everybody hears about it.