ESPN is set to take over ‘Inside the NBA’ starting in the 2025-26 season. Partnering with TNT Sports, they’ll continue producing the show from Atlanta. Fans can expect exciting collaborations between the two analyst teams. But this weekend, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal get one final chance to meet ESPN’s crew in a special event.
On a recent *Inside the NBA* episode, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had a funny debate about a free throw contest between their team and ESPN analysts. Shaq proposed a four-on-four game, with the first team to score 12 points winning.
This idea came from their fun rivalry during the NBA In-Season Tournament when Barkley’s team playfully targeted ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. That moment led to plans for another event, with a special free throw contest at the NBA Cup semifinals.
The contest will have Stephen A Smith facing one of the former players on the Inside the NBA panel. Kenny Smith tried to back out on the show, saying he was too good for the match. Then Shaq’s four-on-four idea made Barkley joke about how tough it would be for the older players.
Charles Barkley said, “We got to get them damn AEDs ready. We gonna need some doctors, some Absorbine Jr., some Flexall, we need it all.”
Charles Barkley gets a response from Kendrick Perkins
Given their age, Charles Barkley’s joke about calling a doctor makes sense. However, Kendrick Perkins had another idea: to reduce health concerns in the competition. He suggested having a three-point shooting contest instead, so they could just stand in one spot and play.
Perkins said, “Look, my playing day is over, OK? And I changed my life. But I’m never backing down from a competition. I don’t need to be in an ice tub after, you know what I’m saying, the cup. I ain’t doing no playing, no moving around. I don’t even run anymore. I actually go for walks.”
