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NBA legend and entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal is living up to every expectation. While he is currently thriving in the electronic music scene and the business world, the legend has also conveyed his eagerness to revisit another one of his talents. Even though?he might be interested in making a comeback with his acting career, one particular show has been left out of his schedule.

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During his recent interview, he revealed that he won’t be joining Saturday Night Live, which his Inside the NBA partner Charles Barkley has hosted four times.

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Shaquille O’Neal won’t be on Saturday Night Live

Barkley’s infamous impersonation of the Big Aristotle on Saturday Night Live in 2018 was an iconic and hilarious scene to witness. It was his fourth time hosting the show.? The Chuckster is known for teasing the Lakers legend. Despite having the perfect chance to give Barkley a taste of his own medicine, O?Neal had to leave the option for one specific reason. The star has a lot on his schedule.

He told The Messenger, ?That show makes you come out there on Monday and I don’t have time to be staying in New York all week.” He added, “I ain’t got time.” However, it would have been intriguing to watch the 4x NBA champion take his revenge. Nonetheless, he doesn’t mind when other stars impersonate him on the NBC series.

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I was known as the class clown so I like to laugh,” O’Neal further shared. “When you’re a comedian, you’re making a joke. I’m gonna laugh with you… I’m not the guy to take myself seriously and ask, ‘Why do you say that?’ I don’t have time for that.”

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We have seen numerous comedians impersonate the Los Angeles Lakers legend. Dwight Howard?s perfect Shaq impersonation is probably one of the best you have seen. However, nothing comes close to the former Phoenix Suns star?s act. Barkley has played numerous roles throughout his career. First as a player and now as an analyst, Sir Charles has continued to entertain his fans.

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He has been working as an NBA analyst for over two decades now. Despite the accolades, he seems to be more interested in another job. Perhaps this is one of his favorite parts of his career. He willingly accepts any offer to impersonate the Big Aristotle when provided.?

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In his 4th appearance on SNL, Barkley wore a fake mustache to show his strange yet top-notch talent. Teaming up with Bill Hader and Kenan Thompson, Chuck playfully mocked O’Neal in a segment that parodied Inside The NBA.

While O?Neal might have lost his chance this time, he will surely find some more in the future. Have you seen the old clip of Barkley mimicking O’Neal? Who is the best among Dwight and Sir Charles? Let us know in the comments below.

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READ MORE: Stephen Jackson?s ?Losers? Rant on $100 Million Rejection for NBA Honor Gains Shaquille O?Neal and 7x Champion?s Approval

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Pragya Vashisth

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