Charles Barkley did a bit of spring cleaning in the TNT studio despite his best friend’s very strong feelings about ‘sweeping.’ Shaquille O’Neal’s rivals had taken a figurative broom to his entire season a record number of times. So his urge to break a broom is understandable. LeBron James might be able to relate very soon. The Lakers are 0-3 down to the Denver Nuggets, one game away from a sweep. Another sweep in James’ career brings him closer to Big Bro Shaq’s record.

Chuck broke out the broom, claiming, “The King going home in one game.” Shaq tried to one-up, claiming, “I was swept five times.” Actually, it’s six, Shaq.

From his explosive start with the Orlando Magic to his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, Big Diesel has been swept in the playoffs five times: in the 1994 first round by Indiana, the 1995 finals by Houston, the Michael Jordan-led Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals of 1996, Utah in the 1998 Western Conference Finals, and the second round of the 1999 playoffs by San Antonio. He forgot in 2007 that the then-reigning champions, the Miami Heat, were swept by the Chicago Bulls.

When Bron was in Cleveland, the Cavs were swept in the 2007 finals by the Spurs. In his second stint in Cleveland, the Warriors swept the Cavs in the 2018 finals. The Nuggets swept the Lakers in 2003, and it feels like deja vu this year. The Lakers have lost a streak of 11 games to the Nuggets. And if they lose on Saturday again, the Lakers are eliminated, and James has suffered the fourth sweep of his career.

While O’Neal has the dubious honor of suffering the most sweeps, Bron would come pretty close with four. Most NBA titans have only experienced sweeps three times or fewer. Kobe Bryant endured the 1998 and 1999 runs alongside Shaq, as well as the 2011 sweep following his last title. Jordan on the other hand didn’t suffer through any after his early career sweeps in 1986 and 1987. Steph Curry has had zero sweeps in his career!

For Shaq, the Lakers sweeps are personal. That’s why he gets very mad at Chuck’s taunt.

Bitter feelings aren’t swept for Shaquille O’Neal

Ever since the Knicks swept Chuck in 1989 and rubbed it in with that infamous sweeping photograph, Barkley has had a chip on his shoulder. He started the 2020 playoffs with a broom in the TNT studio as symbolism for the Portland Trailblazers sweeping the Lakers. That year, the Lakers won both the series and the title. And Shaq snapped Chuck’s broom like a toothpick and warned him not to mess with Lakers Nation.

Shaq predicted the Lakers would make a comeback this series, a feeling he’s held on to till Game 2. He’s been very silent about the Lakers’ chances since Game 3. He spared Barkley’s broom this time, though Kenny Smith called Chuck mean.

On Saturday night, it’s all on the Lakers. Whether they take the series back to Denver or exit for the second consecutive time remains to be seen.