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In just the second episode of TNT's "Inside the NBA" for the season, Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal wasted no time in trolling his co-host, Charles Barkley, over his rank on the NBA's all-time scoring list. The humorous jab came on the heels of a discussion about Kevin Durant's leapfrogging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to reach 12th place on the revered list.
The NBA post-game show, featuring O'Neal, Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith, examined Durant's recent feat in detail. Durant moved up after a stunning 39-point performance, despite the Phoenix Suns' 100-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shaq, himself ranking 8th on the all-time list, turned the spotlight onto Barkley, questioning where he thought he stood. Barkley, often referred to as "The Round Mound of Rebound," guessed he was a few spots down but was quickly corrected by Shaq, who is positioned at No.
8 with 28,596 points.
Shaq's Brutal Roast
Shaq didn't hold back: "Where you at on that list? No, you're not a couple down. You're all the way down. All the way down. I know so." Charles Barkley ranks at No. 29, with 23,757 points.
Adding salt to the wound, Shaq pointed out that active players like Chris Paul, Steph Curry, and DeMar DeRozan have a legitimate shot at bumping Barkley even further down the list before their careers conclude. O'Neal, who played 19 seasons in the NBA, had a longer prime than Barkley, particularly during his stints with the Orlando Magic and the LA Lakers.
Although injuries and notoriously poor free-throw shooting may have stymied his climb up the scoring ladder, he remains above Barkley. Barkley's 16-season NBA journey also had its share of stumbling blocks. After not starting in his rookie year, Barkley's latter years with the Houston Rockets were marred by injuries, curtailing his scoring opportunities.
While some may argue Barkley is a more natural scorer, the numbers favor Shaq. Off the court, however, the camaraderie remains unshaken. Last year, TNT locked in the iconic 'Inside the NBA' crew to long-term contracts. Barkley agreed to a 10-year extension, while Johnson, Smith, and O'Neal also recommitted, although the details remain undisclosed.