The analysts of Inside the NBA have been working together for over a decade now. With Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal being the latest addition to the ‘family’, the co-hosts have pretty much become comfortable to the point of pulling occasional pranks on each other. The latest victim of the Inside Guys‘ hilarious antics turned out to be former NBA star, Kenny Smith. Interestingly, it did not just involve Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan but a zebra as well!

Kenny Smith was the second analyst among the four to join TNT. A year after retiring from the league, the 2x NBA champion began working as a studio analyst for Turner Sports.

Kenny Smith has a ‘message’ for Michael Jordan

In the latest episode of Inside the NBA, co-host Ernie Johnson showed the cover of Kenny Smith’s upcoming book. It is called “Talk of Champions” and will be released on May 9. The former Houston Rockets star stated that the book contained stories about significant people in his life who taught him ‘great things’. Smith provided a little more context on the purpose behind coming up with the book. Not long after, his fellow co-hosts apparently thought it was time to get a little laugh out of their viewers.

Johnson then asked one of the crew members to show a ‘signed copy’ of Smith’s book, meant for His Airness. On the first page of the book was written, “Mike, please display this book in a prominent place in your office. You are the man! – Kenny”.

Smith’s reaction to his supposed ‘message’ revealed that it was all just a harmless prank. Either that or Smith’s Zebra friend somehow learned how to read because the second signed copy was addressed to an animal. It read, “Zebra, thanks for taking the blame for me being late (at least for one night!) – Kenny”

Unfortunately for Smith, his fellow analyst did not stop with just MJ and the adorable four-legged animal.

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I got your water!

Continuing their hilarious segment, Johnson moves on to the next message which was apparently meant for NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon. The note read, “Dream, thanks for having a strong and wide shoulders! – Kenny”. Recalling months-old sarcastic reply given by Charles Barkley to Smith, the note concluded with, “PS – I got your water”. Smith’s last signed copy was hilariously addressed to a French Bulldog calling the loveable pup an ‘inspiration’ and a ‘style guru’.

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These occasional pranks and playful banters are one of the reasons the post-game show has a huge number of viewers, who never get tired of watching their entertaining content.