Sometimes it feels like the NBA Playoffs are just filler for the hijinks between Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA as opposed to the other way around.
Wednesday night, they were at it again. Barkley made a seemingly innocent comment that was filled with enough innuendo to briefly silence Shaq, causing him to hide his face full of laughter. Barkley, who is known for causing hilarity on set with his brash and unfiltered comments, doesn’t usually need to rely on innuendo for a laugh, but his “two balls” reference nearly broke Shaq Wednesday night.
It happened as Barkley attempted to give some rare, but legitimate basketball analysis on set, wrestling over whether the Memphis Grizzlies deserved more credit for winning their game or if the Los Angeles Lakers deserved more criticism for losing it.
Charles Barkley: “I’m kind of juggling two balls right here.”
Chuck temporarily broke Shaq. pic.twitter.com/jvuhAqaAtC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 20, 2023
“I’m kind of juggling two balls right here,” Barkley said, shuffling his hands up and down in. a way that emulated the Big Balls Dance from Major League II. But “juggling two balls” was enough to set Shaq off, who lost it like a teenager in grade school after hearing their teacher say “balls” for the first time.
“Is that what you’re trying to do?” Ernie Johnsons quickly asked, recognizing Barkley’s accidental innuendo that had Shaq and Kenny Smith cracking up.
Shaq struggled to gain his composure for nearly 30 seconds after hearing Barkley say, “Juggling two balls.” Barkley, meanwhile, was stone-faced throughout the ordeal. Didn’t even crack a smirk as he tried his best to continue offering some NBA insight for the audience, which made it seem like Barkley was just innocently juggling two balls and meant no innuendo by it.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com
Recent Posts
Kenny Smith makes ESPN ‘NBA Countdown’ debut
Longtime 'Inside the NBA' analyst Kenny Smith appeared on 'NBA Countdown' after signing a new deal with ESPN.
ESPN
Top ESPN personalities are selling out for Stephen A. Smith’s sketchy solitaire app
Joe Buck better not try selling the Cowboys to Chris Russo
"I don’t want to hear about chances that Dallas has to make the playoffs."
Mark Shapiro ‘not interested’ in replacing Bob Iger as Disney CEO
"I love what I do and I love the people around me, and I wouldn't want to leave that at this point in my life."
In college football, brands matter way more than team quality
Nearly three million more viewers watched Ohio State blowout Penn State than watched a tight top-15 matchup between Vanderbilt and Texas in the same window.
Pat McAfee clarifies ESPN management, not talent, to blame for YouTube TV social media campaign
"Whoever's idea that was just coming from a place of not understanding the reality of everything."