If you tuned into TNT and thought Chuck was looking a little different, you’re not alone. Vince Carter filled in for Charles Barkley, who is enjoying a day off after back-to-back All-Star schedules. Somehow it took the halftime in the Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors game for his friends to notice. While Chuck is away, the Inside Guys play.

For starters, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith had the belated realization to ask, “Why isn’t Chuck here again?” Kenny showed they’re more hardworking than Sir Charles as he and Shaquille O’Neal turned down suggestions to take day-offs themselves. When Ernie Johnson said Vince Carter was there in place of Chuck, Shaq and Kenny gave him a round of applause. Barkley will never know that feeling.

Kenny, in fact, said, “Every time there’s no Chuck, there’s a round of applause.” And Shaq supplied the applause. They like to demonstrate that the Chuckster gets more praise when he’s MIA.

And no one thought Barkley would skip this game in his schedule. It is, after all, the Los Angeles Lakers playing against the Golden State Warriors, two teams that Barkley loves to hate. He’s on a well-deserved break (no matter what Kenny says) since kicking off TNT’s All-Star coverage last Thursday. He was present for most of the events in Indianapolis and ended the weekend as the commentator of the All-Star Game.

Joining him were Taylor Rooks and Barkley’s other nemesis outside the TNT studio – Draymond Green. They went off on each other as Barkley pulled the same old jabs at San Francisco.

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Green got the last laugh today and Barkley wasn’t in the studio to witness. The Dubs beat the Lakers 128-110 and Green went 8 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds in 21 minutes. The Warriors weren’t looking very “cooked” as Chuck puts it as Stephen Curry made 32 points.

Fake Charles Barkley saves the day

Barkley should be worried about his job. There are people around the corner ready to swoop in like TNT’s very own Chris Haynes. He did his best Sir Charles impression but on the wrong person. “You know who just asked about you, Shaq?… Nobody.” That was the same one-liner Barkley pulled on Green at the All-Star Game.

While Green laughed then, Shaq did not. “Have fun, because you about to be working for ESPN Deportes tomorrow.” Even Chuck’s imitators can’t be spared the bullying.

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Charles Barkley is expected to be back next week and get bullied in person. Did you miss him tonight?

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