Hard to imagine now, but Shaq and Barkley clashed when Inside the NBA debuted. “I’m positive we had some rocky roads when Shaq first came on.” Charles Barkley once described his relationship with his co-analyst on TNT, Shaquille O’Neal. Since then, they have moved along pretty well, and in fact, no jokes are off the table when it comes to the duo. From no ring to being fat, Shaq has time and again ribbed Chuck. It even continues with recent admission.

Just a few weeks ago, the Lakers legend confirmed he was on a new diet and wants to have 8-pack abs. Barkley took up Mounjaro after hip-replacement surgery, shedding over 60 lbs in six months. Barkley talked about his weight loss on the Dan Patrick show in 2023, saying he had dropped from 352 lbs in January to about 290 lbs.

The revelation meant Barkley joined a number of celebrities, including Elon Musk and Chelsea Handler, who have used Mounjaro and medications like it, such as Ozempic, to lose weight. Yet, the efforts from the TNT analyst are not enough, as Shaquille O’Neal described his co-host in one word. On May 20, Mackenzie Salmon challenged Shaq to label each Inside the NBA host in one word.

“Last but not least, the one and only Charles Barkley.” The answer from Shaq won’t surprise you: “Obese.”

Calling the Suns legend fat is not new for Shaq. In a 2014 tweet, the Big Aristotle wrote, “charles Barkley your belly looks tired, you should rest it on the desk.” And these fat and no rings on Chuckster will continue next season as the show will keep going over on ESPN and ABC next season. But now the question remains: what word did Shaq use to describe his other co-hosts?

Only Ernie Johnson received appreciation from Shaquille O’Neal

The 4x NBA champion was the last to join the show in 2011. Kenny ‘The Jet‘ Smith and Chuck joined the show a decade earlier in 1998 and 2000, respectively. But since the show’s initial days, Ernie Johnson has been a constant voice for the show and the network. That’s why when Shaq was asked to define EJ in one word, his choice was spot on.

“So I’d love to start with Ernie. How would you describe him?” Asked the sports presenter, and the answer from Shaquille O’Neal was “Perfect.” Long before sharing the studio, Ernie was impactful in Shaq’s life: in 1989, Johnson traveled to Shaq’s Louisiana home to interview the 17-year-old prospect, planting the seed for Shaq’s future in media. “I have a different type of love for Ernie Johnson. Ernie Johnson was a guy that I used to watch on TV. He actually came to my house when I was 17 years old and interviewed me.”

Johnson has been the steady hand guiding analysts through 19 Sports Emmy wins and three decades of NBA highs and lows. “Love his voice, love how he treats people, and for me to be sitting by him, no one else can tell that story.” So much positivity from O’Neal, but it was for Smith.

The word he used for the 2x NBA champion was “Snitch.” Even during the recent broadcast of the show, Shaq had similar grievances. “You know what I gathered from that, if you ever need information, you can get it from Kenny. Damn you snitching” As the Rockets legend revealed the Olive oil diet that Shaq was on which led him to run off the set during mid broadcast.

That’s how their relationship truly is. Plethora of jokes alongside some analysis and camaraderie like no other. Their chemistry, equal parts barbs and brotherhood, will be missed as Inside the NBA moves to ESPN/ABC.