In classic Shaq fashion, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t hold back when asked about the competition among NBA studio shows. The Hall of Famer burst into laughter when the topic of rival broadcasts came up, declaring that they’re not even close.
“Shout out to all the guys at TNT that fought for keeping it the same. Cause I’m looking at all the other shows, they’re not even close,” O’Neal said with a laugh. “They’re not even close! You can’t say it, but I can.”
O’Neal’s comments come amid a shifting media landscape, with the NBA’s new broadcast deals involving NBC and Prime Video. Despite the shakeup, Inside the NBA, featuring Shaq, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley, remains a fan favorite and cultural staple, now in their new ESPN home.
During his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN Radio this past Friday, O’Neal also shared details from a September meeting with ESPN executives. According to Shaq, the message from ESPN was clear: the show’s chemistry is sacred.
“The ESPN executives did a great job when they came and met with us,” O’Neal said. “And they said, ‘We’re not gonna bother you.’ And I said, ‘What about when Chuck talks about San Antonio women?’ They said, ‘We’ll deal with that when it happens, but we’re not gonna bother you, we’re not gonna micromanage you guys, it’s gonna be the same show.’”
