There are whispers of something sinister going around the NBA community. The theory, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley hate the New York Knicks. The proof fans have noted is in the TNT broadcasts. Shaq and Chuck only pay attention to the Knicks when Inside the NBA is airing their game. Even then, they’re dismissive about them and move on to another team. This snub of New York isn’t going unnoticed. So when Kendrick Perkins appeared on a New York radio show, he explained the root of their problem.

While on The Michael Kay Show, the hosts asked the ESPN analyst why his two counterparts at TNT look down on the Knicks. He said, “Because obviously they don’t watch basketball…” That seemed to get a chuckle out of the hosts. “They can’t watch basketball on a consistent basis,” he said about the demands of their jobs but added, “The only time they’re probably watching the Knicks when it’s game night.”

Even then, fans have noticed Shaq and Chuck aren’t too present in the discussion when the Knicks do play on TNT. Perk indicates he’s watching them closely and believes, “No way in hell you can downplay the way that they’ve been playing the game of basketball.” The reason Perkins is this secure in his opinion about New York is players like Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. For a brief moment, he used to see an MVP contender in Brunson.

He nonetheless said that if Shaq and Chuck were watching the Knicks consistently, they wouldn’t deny what Perk is able to see. What he saw was the Knicks ending the regular season on a phenomenal note.

They concluded the last game against the Chicago Bulls in an overtime victory 120-119. It was their fifth consecutive victory and the best way to cap off their first 50-win season since 2012-13. They overtook the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2nd seed and will face the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat Play-in game. At least we know Shaq and Chuck have to watch them then.

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley lead the Knicks’ debate

The bickering duo’s indifference towards the Knicks became obvious when Ernie Johnson brought up the team’s highlights last week. The Chuckster said, “I think the Pacers beat the Knicks (in the playoffs).” Shaq agreed with him, even though it wasn’t technically an opinion. Fans started pulling the receipts to prove that they didn’t really like the Knicks. Most of the time they say the Knicks aren’t capable of a deeper playoff run.

The second-seeded team still has doubters. Most analysts who aren’t Perkins want the team to prove they’re worth the playoff berth. Many of them defended Shaq and Chuck by saying that the Knicks do face a real threat in the playoffs.

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It’s mostly on the Knicks to prove the TNT analysts or their ESPN defender right. Which side of the Knicks debate is stronger?