NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley seem like two peas in a pod now. They often roast each other, take jabs at each other during arguments on live TV and play pranks on one another. But all that comes from a place of love and respect the two have formed for each other over the years.

However, it wasn’t like that from the start. In fact, O’Neal and Barkley would’ve gone on to have one of the most fierce kinds of beef in the NBA if their mothers hadn’t stepped in during the 1999 NBA season. 

The Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal beef that almost happened

For fans who are not aware, during the 1999 season, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had an absolute brawl on the court. Barkley was in the twilight of his career while Shaq was starting to develop in his prime.

During a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, Barkley was fouled under the basket. And after the foul, Shaq shoved him which led to Barkley throwing the ball at O’Neal’s head.

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And before you know it, both the players were on the floor being separated by teammates, referees, and coaching staff. Shaq and Barkley both got ejected and headed to the locker room. 

While he was thinking about getting back at Barkley for hitting him with the ball, something unusual happened. In fact, Shaq disclosed the story in an edition of his Big Podcast. He narrated the story of how he got a call while in the locker room and it was none other than Charles Barkley’s mother.

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Shaq heard the voice on the other end of the phone say, “You better not put your hands on my baby.” That was Charles Barkley’s mother who was on a three-way call with him and Shaquille O’Neal’s mother Lucille.

Shaq had no idea who the lady was until his own mother clarified that she was Barkley’s mom. As it turns out, Shaq had no idea that his mom and Charles Barkley’s mom were friends. He then mentioned what Barkley’s mom said after that. 

NBA moms stepping in

“Take your butt down there, go in that locker room and you give that boy a hug and you stop it,” Shaq narrated the rest of what Charles Barkley’s mother had to say to him. And that is how Shaq and Barkley were able to end the feud before it translated into something big. They also had dinner together later on.

Watch This Story – 5 times Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had heated fights on Inside The NBA

Now we get to see Barkley and O’Neal going at each other on the show ‘Inside The NBA’ on TNT. It’s a good thing that their moms intercepted the apparent feud. Otherwise we wouldn’t have such a hilarious duo of analysts on TV.