Shaquille O’Neal’s legendary sense of humor was on full display during a recent appearance on the Straight Game podcast, where he found yet another creative way to roast his longtime friend and broadcast sparring partner, Charles Barkley.
The setup? WNBA assistant coach Ty Ellis. The punchline? A weight-loss twist that had the room in stitches.
“Why he look like Charles Barkley on Ozempic?” Shaq quipped, pointing at Ellis with a grin that signaled he knew exactly what he was doing.
The joke landed so hard that Ellis reportedly had to leave his seat, laughing uncontrollably. Backstage, he confirmed the moment, saying,
“He called me Charles Barkley on Ozempic. I’m like, come on, man”.
Shaq roasts coach Ty Ellis:
“Why he look like Charles Barkley on Ozempic.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/47Bso3nuFA
— Straight Game Podcast (@straightgamepod) September 2, 2025
Shaq and Barkley have built a reputation for their playful jabs and comedic chemistry over 13 years on Inside the NBA. Their back-and-forth banter became one of the show’s biggest draws, often blurring the line between sports commentary and late-night comedy. While Barkley has poked fun at Shaq’s sensitivity, Shaq never misses a chance to fire back.
This latest jab, referencing the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic, was a nod to Barkley’s well-documented weight fluctuations and recent health journey. It was cheeky, timely, and unmistakably Shaq.
Ty Ellis, currently an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces, became the unexpected bridge in Shaq’s roast. His resemblance to a slimmed-down Barkley was apparently too tempting for Shaq to ignore.
