Did you see it the other night? Shaq going off on Kenny “the Jet” for Smith’s so-called “double dipping.” As we known, Inside the NBA has officially joined the ESPN family. But – and it’s a big but – Shaquille O’Neal sure isn’t acting like everyone’s one big happy crew just yet. And nobody felt that more than The Jet this week.
Kenny recently signed a multi-year deal to appear on ESPN programming, including NBA Countdown. For ESPN, it’s a big win — Smith brings credibility, humor, and chemistry that translates anywhere he sits. But for Shaq? Oh, that’s a different story. Big Diesel isn’t letting his longtime teammate slide without some classic, big-man-energy roasting.
When the Inside the NBA crew finally reunited Wednesday night, Shaq wasted zero time calling Kenny out.
“Hey Kenny, do me a favor,” Shaq said. “Don’t take our secret sauce to their boring show. I watch that show — they never laugh. You come over there with dumbass jokes and I heard them laughing. Do not take our secret sauce to other shows.”
Vintage Shaq.
Playful. Serious. Petty. Honest. All at once.
Charles Barkley tried stepping in to calm things down, reminding everyone that Inside the NBA is technically an ESPN family property now. “We don’t talk about the family publicly,” Chuck insisted.
But Shaq wasn’t letting it go. Nope. He went full comedian mode for the rest of the night. Suddenly Kenny became “the traitor.” Shaq started dropping references to Trader Joe’s. The Las Vegas Traitors. And every time Kenny tried to jump into the conversation, Shaq hit him with:
“Traitors don’t get to make comments on our show.”
The banter even rattled Kenny enough that he didn’t run to the big board — a rare sight. But it didn’t rattle him enough to keep him off Countdown. Kenny knows opportunity when he sees it, and ESPN is giving him more spotlight than ever.
“Y’all hated me last week,” Kenny said, smiling. “Wait a couple weeks when y’all see me.”
And he’s right — he’s got plenty of time to make new friends at ESPN before Shaq and Chuck come at him again. Inside the NBA doesn’t return until Christmas Day, meaning Kenny gets a full month of ESPN airtime while Shaq sits at home stewing — or plotting his next roast.
It’s all love, of course. Shaq’s been clowning Kenny for decades. If anything, this is proof the show’s chemistry is still intact no matter what network logo sits in the corner.
But it also sets up a hilarious dynamic for the rest of the season:
Kenny Smith, the ESPN crossover star. Shaq, the self-appointed gatekeeper of Inside the NBA’s “secret sauce.” And Chuck, trying — unsuccessfully — to keep the peace.
Christmas Day can’t come fast enough.