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Compared to Eminem by Shaquille O’Neal, TNT Co-Host Ernie Johnson Puts Rap Skills to Test Yet Again

Published 03/31/2024, 11:46 PM EDT

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Brother from another mother is how the cast of ‘Inside the NBA’ would describe each other. From Shaquille O’Neal backing Ernie’s rap skills with the Eminem comparison to Ernie reciprocating the love and affection, the bond has been quite visible on numerous occasions. The most recent wholesome moment of a similar kind has been Kenny Smith rejoicing in Ernie’s display of his rap skills once again.

@ernie.johnson killin the @hamiltonmusical song with the cast!!! #weloveernie,” read the caption to the Instagram post shared by Kenny. The video showed Johnson vibing with the cast of Hamilton Musical to their song “My Shot“. The TNT sportscaster did not shy away from flexing his rap skills, as the cast too joined him in the jam.

The hashtag (#weloveernie) in Kenny’s post did its work as Ernie garnered multiple comments showering love on him. While one of the IG users wants the 67-year-old to be protected at all costs, another one commented that Ernie is definitely loved. “From Guns and Ships to this banger, Ernie is truly a Hamilton fan! 😆🙌,” commented heroik1magineer.

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A post shared by Kenny Smith (@kennysmith)

Notably, the time Shaquille O’Neal praised Johnson for his rap skills was also an instance of him going in on Hamilton Musical’s other track, “Guns and Ships.” It is worth mentioning that ‘Guns and Ships’ is considered a challenging track because of its multiple triplets and tongue-twisting rhymes. “Sitting next to Eminem’s father. Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly, we are coming after you all. We got a mixtape coming out,” Shaq had stated back then.

Their unconditional love and support for each other reflect what the cast of NBA TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ has become to each other over the years.

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The Ernie Johnson-Charles Barkley-Shaquille O’Neal-Kenny Smith bond

Ernie believes that the bond between the cast of four has been as strong as ever because no one on the show ever tries to make the show about themselves. “So when you have that kind of time together, you have that kind of bond, yeah, we love each other. We really, truly do. I grew up with two older sisters and this is as close as I’ll ever come to having brothers. And that’s what they are to me,” he stated.

Even the duo that enjoys roasting each other, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, have had their moments with each other. Barkley had once expressed in a sentimental manner how much he appreciated his friendship with Shaq. “You are one of the most genuine people, one of the most fun people I’ve ever been around. Obviously, the basketball stuff goes without saying, you one of the greatest to ever do it. You’ve had an amazing life and I’m glad to share it with you,” he stated.

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There have been multiple instances where the cast members have not had enough time to praise each other. And instances where they have all backed each other through thick and thin of life. Let us know in the comments your favorite moment between the cast members from the show.

Is Ernie Johnson Shaq’s Godfather? Exploring TNT Co-Host’s Decade-Long Friendship

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Written by:

Khelendra Kumar Yadav

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Khelendra is an NBA writer at Essentially Sports, where he brings insightful analysis and engaging content to basketball enthusiasts worldwide. With a passion for the game cultivated from his own experiences as a basketball player, he has represented his school team in numerous tournaments, honing both skills and an intimate understanding of the sport. Khelendra holds a PG Diploma in Digital Media from a reputed university, providing him with a solid foundation in multimedia storytelling and digital content creation.
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Edited by:

Shivali Nathta