This one, you really have to see to believe.
If there’s one thing fans can always count on, it’s Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley turning even the strangest NBA moment into comedy gold.
That’s exactly what happened after a bizarre in-game dance during Wednesday night’s Cavaliers game went viral. What began as an odd piece of arena entertainment quickly found a second life on Inside the NBA, where Shaq and Barkley couldn’t resist recreating it — live on television.
The original moment unfolded during a timeout in Cleveland’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers’ in-arena host and team mascot appeared wearing pink tutus, slowly moving around the court while holding a large pink exercise ball. As if that wasn’t surreal enough, the performance was set to Adele’s emotional ballad “Hello,” creating a scene that left fans equal parts confused and entertained.
Naturally, Inside the NBA couldn’t let it slide.
When the clip aired on the show, Shaq and Barkley immediately stood up to reenact the dance. Barkley grabbed a large exercise ball and began moving with exaggerated seriousness, while Shaq joined in with stiff, dramatic steps and a straight face that made the whole thing even funnier.
The visual was pure Inside the NBA chaos — two Hall of Fame big men, long retired, committing fully to one of the strangest timeout performances the league has seen all season.
Kenny Smith, watching from his seat, completely lost it. At one point, he joked about how Shaq and Barkley were holding the ball between them, while anchor Ernie Johnson laughed and admitted he “didn’t need to see that.”
For longtime viewers, the moment felt familiar.
Shaq has built a second Hall of Fame career as an entertainer on Inside the NBA. Whether he’s racing Kenny Smith to the big screen, falling out of his chair laughing, donning outrageous costumes, or committing to ridiculous physical comedy, Shaq has never been afraid to look silly for the sake of a laugh.
This wasn’t the first time — and it certainly won’t be the last.
Over the years, fans have seen Shaq squeeze into tiny cars, argue passionately over nonexistent basketball rules, and lean fully into pranks that derail entire segments. Barkley, of course, is the perfect partner in crime, delivering dry reactions and unfiltered commentary that balance Shaq’s larger-than-life energy.
That chemistry is exactly why Inside the NBA remains must-watch television.
The Cavaliers’ dance may have been strange, but once Shaq and Barkley got hold of it, the moment became unforgettable. It’s a reminder that while basketball analysis is part of the show, the real magic happens when these legends stop taking themselves seriously.
In a league often defined by pressure and precision, Shaq and Barkley continue to prove that laughter still has a place — especially when it involves pink tutus, an exercise ball, and two former superstars who know exactly how to entertain.