Shaquille O’Neal has solidified his status as one of the most recognizable figures in both the basketball world and popular culture. Following his retirement, O’Neal transitioned smoothly into a commentary career, captivating audiences with his candid and humorous style right from the start. Recently, during the final airing of TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA,’ he certainly left a mark—most notably with an NSFW sign-off!
This past Saturday marked the conclusion of ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT. Starting next season, O’Neal and his fellow panelists, including Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, will be shifting their talents to ESPN. During their farewell with TNT, O’Neal had an emphatic message for fans and critics alike, using some colorful language.
“To that network we coming to, we not coming to eff around. Since this is the last show, I’m going to say it— we not coming to f*** around,” O’Neal remarked.
Shaq on ‘Inside the NBA’: “To that network we coming to, we not coming to eff around. Since this is the last show, I’m going to say it- we not coming to f*ck around.” 🏀📺🎙️ #NBA pic.twitter.com/mNRUHcIjeb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 1, 2025
For those feeling puzzled, it’s important to note that ‘Inside the NBA’ isn’t coming to an end; instead, it is relocating to ESPN thanks to rights acquisition made back in November 2024. For 35 years, the show has been a staple on TNT. O’Neal’s farewell moment was just one of many entertaining highlights during his time on the show.
Shaquille O’Neal Pulls a Ping Pong Prank on Charles Barkley
O’Neal and Charles Barkley share a bond that goes beyond friendship as they frequently engage in playful banter. In an April episode from last year, while discussing playoff predictions, Barkley pressed the ‘Guarantee’ button, quickly realizing he had fallen into one of O’Neal’s signature pranks. Moments later, a flood of ping pong balls cascaded down on the unsuspecting Barkley. His reaction was classic.
“I hate ya’ll man. Ya’ll got some balls in my Diet Coke,” Barkley exclaimed. O’Neal, quick on his feet, responded, “You know you like balls on your head.”
THE GUARANTEE BUTTON IS BACK 🤑 pic.twitter.com/ON6gQlunAS
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 21, 2024
As O’Neal and his crew make their transition to ESPN, fans eagerly await what the future holds for the beloved show in its new environment.
