Shaquille O’Neal opens up about joining TNT and working with Charles Barkley – NBA news
Shaquille O’Neal recently shared his thoughts on joining TNT’s “Inside the NBA” and what he intends to do on the show. He also spoke about Sir Charles Barkley, whom he will be sharing screen space with, in the show.
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the legends of basketball who retired this year after 19 seasons in the NBA. He was named as one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time even before he had achieved everything that he has in his glorious career. Multiple NBA World Championships, Finals MVPs and regular season MVP in 2000 are the highlights.
Apart from being one of the most dominating players to play basketball, Shaquille was also one of the most entertaining men to step foot on a basketball court. In a culture where the big guys of basketball are usually more serious, quiet and uncharismatic, Shaquille destroyed all such stereotypes.
He was the life of the party wherever he was, he was the star attraction, he was the funniest, wittiest and the cleverest player you would ever come across. That is the reason why NBA fans jumped with joy upon hearing the news that “Superman” will be part of the hit basketball talk show “Inside the NBA” on TNT.
It would surely be a delight to see the colourful Shaq give his take on everything basketball, but it almost didn’t happen. As Shaq explains, he first had an offer from ESPN. Although he didn’t have anything against the network, “Shaq Fu” just though he would be more comfortable with Turner. Talking with John Reid, The Times Picayune reporter, in an interview, Shaq said;
“I felt Turner allowed you to be yourself more. ESPN was cool, but I wasn’t really trying to go to L.A.”
He went on to explain how it was more attractive to be part of the hit show and what he planned on bringing to the table.
“I’m just going to go up there and have fun. Poke fun at people. It’s already the No. 1 show; I just want to add on to it. I hate when guys go up there and not be themselves and try to be more. I don’t think I’m going to do that. I’m just going to be myself, say what I’ve got to say. ... “
Shaquille will be paired with another great entertainer of the basketball world, Charles Barkley. Barkley was one of the most outspoken players in his time and has since become the biggest draw of the show. Shaq has some history with Barkley and he spoke of his respect for the “round mound of rebound”
“The reason why Charles gets away with a lot of that stuff is because he’s in the Hall of Fame, and he must know what he’s talking about.”
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