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“We gonna need some doctors!” Charles Barkley has hilarious reaction to Shaquille O’Neal’s TNT vs. ESPN shootout proposal

Posted on December 13, 2024 - 3:31 am by

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal debate who will face Stephen A. Smith in free throw shooting contest in Inside the NBA vs. ESPN clash.

Charles Barkley loses his mind over Shaquille O’Neal’s Inside the NBA vs. Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN contest suggestion

With ESPN set to take over the broadcast of Inside the NBA starting next season, fans are chomping at the idea of a few more collaborations between the two sets of analysts. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, however, will have one chance this weekend when the two sides meet again.

During last season’s NBA Cup Finals, or rather the NBA In-Season Tournament as it was called, the two sides locked horns in an epic crossover. Barkley and his crew took shots at close friend and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith sitting on the other stage.

That probably gave the two networks the idea of renewing their collaboration by bringing them together in the NBA Cup semifinals. With that set to take place, the two sides have organized a free throw shooting competition.



It will be Stephen A. Smith against one of the three former players from the Inside the NBA panel. During today’s show, they were discussing who would take on their ESPN analyst friend. Kenny Smith tried to back out of it as he believed he was too good for his fellow Queens native.

Then Shaquille O’Neal had a better idea in his mind. He proposed a four-on-four free throw matchup, with the first to twelve winning the game. Hearing this, the Hall of Famer Barkley chimed in with a hilarious response.

We got to get them damn AEDs ready. We gonna need some doctors, some Absorbine Jr., some Flexall, we need it all.

Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA

Barkley joked that if all of them older players were to play, it would mean a lot of pain medication and help would be needed to help them. Instead, they would prefer if one of them played against Stephen A. Smith.

Stephen A. Smith responds to Charles Barkley and Inside the NBA’s jokes

As soon as the broadcast was seen by everyone, it was evident that Stephen A. Smith was either watching it live or came to know about it through social media. He then took to his X account to reply to Inside the NBA’s clip showing the discussion.

This ain’t a first pitch fellas. I’ll give Kenny a chance in a FT contest — Queens (NY) in the building. I’m beating Chuck. Shaq, Why are you even talking? NO CHANCE. EJ: I humbly stand down to you, sir. See y’all this Saturday. Love y’all.




Stephen A. Smith wrote on X

His opening sentence was a hit back at the quartet laughing about his horrible first pitch at Yankee Stadium last year. He then went on to reiterate that he does not fear a challenge against Kenny Smith. But the rest, he suggested, he will beat them

Fans already know Shaquille O’Neal’s free throw history well. But what is also evident is that the ESPN analyst has been working on his shooting with the help of a renowned shooting coach, which could indicate he is ready to give his best in Las Vegas.