It was only tip-off and the ESPN-TNT combination was already wild. Shaquille O’Neal was sparing Stephen A. Smith no quarter from minute one. He got new prey in the form of the ESPN veteran and he seized every opportunity. Including turning a joke at his yesteryear style into a taunt at Smith.

Hardcore fans would recall that moment Shaquille O’Neal was looking like a ginormous Stephen A. Smith last season. At least the suit and barely visibly receding hairline were on point. The TNT crew brought back that look as a sort of welcome present to the veteran sportscaster at the joint ESPN and TNT coverage.

“That’s my Stephen A. look,” Shaq declared, turning the joke at him on Smith. He managed to make Smith at a loss for words for once who could only laugh it off.

But an unabashed Stephen A. Smith can stay silent for only this long. He chanted, “I got him,” in good humor until O’Neal said he’d grow his Stephen A. fuzz back again for next week. He demanded a replay of Shaq’s barely-there hairline and said, “All I’m gonna say is this. I got a couple of hours to prepare to get at y’all. I’ll see you soon.” 

Standing up for Shaq was his bestie in the face of that threat. “Don’t overprepare,” Charles Barkley warned his longtime nemesis at ESPN. After all, he has a greater enemy in The Round Mound of Rebound.

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On a personal note, Smith was on X right after the game to show he had a great time with the TNT team. He also took the time to post a funny GIF admitting he got “cooked” tonight. Smith should take comfort as this was not the only time the Inside Guys have roasted the hairline of one of their own.

Shaquille O’Neal’s hairy dilemma

The throwback to the Big Aristotle’s Smith tribute was back in January 2023. He flaunted his near-invisible haircut and got teased mercilessly. The TNT crew dubbed him “Stephen A. Shaq” with several zoom-ins of his “crooked” do. Shaq chose to deflect with, “Shout out to my main man, Stephen A.” proving that this was a long time coming before the crossover broadcast.

He declared he was going to kill his barber after the show but he’s since gone for the shiny egg look. It earned him the ninth spot on the top 10 Sexiest Bald Men in the world, ranking after Michael Jordan himself. He doesn’t get to enjoy any of that glory when the jealous bald guys of Inside the NBA exist.

READ MORE: “No, Not Him”: Shaquille O’Neal Rejects ‘Superman’ Moniker for One NBA Superstar in Favor of Another

Smith didn’t answer to Stephen A. Shaq before but he finally did in person. That was not the only hilarity this ESPN-TNT crossover brought. Which moment was your favorite?