The high-flying action had most NBA fans on the edge of their seat this weekend. Though, don’t count Charles Barkley or Shaquille O’Neal in that group. Each got called out for sleeping during various points of watching the Sunday games.
The “Inside The NBA” crew had a tripleheader of games to work on Sunday. Wizards-Sixers, Hawks-Knicks, and Jazz-Grizzlies all played out on TNT’s airwaves. The trusty “Inside The NBA” team was on hand for all three, but Barkley was the first analyst to rest his eyes during the opening half of Wizards-Sixers.
“Well I also thought they did a good job on [Bradley] Beal and [Russell] Westbrook; they played really good defense,” Barkley mused before O’Neal cut him off.
“I’m sorry to interrupt; I know snitches get stitches, but he was not watching the game, and I have proof,” Shaq accused of Barkley before he responded, “Who?”
O’Neal had the evidence ready as the broadcast showed Barkley looking comfortable in the game viewing lounge, resting his eyes for the world to see.
“Well, from what you were able to see in the first half, what did you think?” Ernie Johnson jokingly asked Barkley, who had his excuse ready to fire. “I was a little tired today Ernie. I shot a commercial all day yesterday in the sun. so I’m a little tired,” Barkley said.
O’Neal counted his chickens too early this weekend because just a few hours later, Barkley had the camera crew catch the other big fella on set snoozing during the first half of Knicks-Hawks.
“Is their sleeping gas in that room?!” Kenny Smith joked after seeing the four-time NBA champion passed out during the first playoff game at Madison Square Garden since 2013.
The maintenance team at the TNT studios may want to follow up on Smith’s question before a busy next few days of coverage begins. TNT carries eight playoff games this week before ESPN jumps back into the rotation.