Shaquille O’Neal likes to call himself a clown as he can do anything to make people laugh. After his fierce dominance on the hardwood for two decades, the Big Diesel has cultivated a fun personality post-retirement. The Los Angeles Lakers legend’s larger-than-life personality has made him one of the most loved athletes in the NBA. However, Shaq has proved on occasions that he can revert back to his past fierceness if necessary. Recently, 365lbs Shaq almost tore down a Christmas Tree just to prove a point to co-host Ernie Johnson Jr. on TNT’s Inside the NBA.

During the show, Ernie Johnson told Charles Barkley that hopefully, he could guarantee that Shaquille O’Neal would not have any run-ins into the Christmas tree at the studio. After Johnson’s comments, a clip of Shaquille running into the Christmas tree on three separate occasions was played on the show. During the video, Johnson claimed that the real tree did not break off even when 365 lbs weighing Shaq slammed into it. 

Shaquille O’Neal responded, “Oh! It doesn’t give huh.” The co-hosts Kenny Smith and Barkley figured out that Shaq would take Johnson’s comments as a challenge. Therefore, they urged him to not destroy the beautiful tree. Meanwhile, Ernie Johnson continued to provoke Shaq into making a move.

Shaquille O’Neal nearly goes beast mode to prove a point

The comments from Johnson triggered the four-time NBA champ who got up to take another attempt at tearing down the real Christmas tree. While Kenny Smith requested Shaq not destroy the beautiful tree, he got up and started heading towards the Christmas tree to prove his point.

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Luckily, the Big Diesel listened to Smith and returned back to his seat while hurling a comment at Ernie Johnson. Shaquille O’Neal stated, “Stop testing me, Ernie! Treating me like I’m soft.”

Shaq nearly took down the Christmas tree yet again, but he stopped after the pleading from Smith. However, he half-jokingly warned Johnson not to test him like that.

What prompted Shaq to take on the Christmas tree?

Earlier in the show, Ernie Johnson pointed out that golf legends Tiger Wood and Rory McIlroy were teaming up on The Match to take on ‘underdogs’ Jordan Speith and reigning US PGA champion Justin Thomas. Meanwhile, NBA veteran and co-host Charles Barkley guaranteed that Thomas and Speith would emerge as the victors during the mic’d up hit and giggle event. 

Johnson responded by saying that he hoped Barkley’s predictions would turn out to be better than his claims last week. Barkley claimed that the US national football team would destroy the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup 2022. The Phoenix Suns legend guaranteed that the US team would take down the Netherlands in a resounding fashion. However, the Netherlands national team won the match on December 3 by 3-1. 

After that, Johnson started talking about Shaq’s encounters with the Christmas tree. He pointed out that the real tree did not ‘give’ despite Shaquille O’Neal’s massive body crashing into it.

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Johnson’s comments prompted Shaq to take on the tree once again. However, he stopped midway, and fortunately, the beautiful Christmas tree was saved.