Shaquille O’Neal has always been known for his carefree, often wild sense of humor. On NBA on TNT, he and Charles Barkley have built a reputation for constantly joking around and trading playful jabs. Barkley once admitted that he loves teasing Shaq because the big man is “a little sensitive,” but Shaq never hesitates to fire back when he gets the chance.

During a recent appearance on the Straight Game podcast, Shaq once again found an opportunity to poke fun at his broadcast partner. This time, Shaq made the fun through WNBA coach Ty Ellis.

“Why he look like Charles Barkley on Ozempic?” Shaq said.

The joke had Ellis cracking up so hard he had to leave his seat. Ellis himself later chimed in about the moment.

“Backstage, he called me Charles Barkley on Ozempic. I’m like, come on, man,” Ellis said

For 13 years, O’Neal and Barkley have entertained fans as part of the NBA broadcasting crew. Their humor and chemistry became one of the show’s biggest draws. Their run on TNT lasted until the 2024-25 season, before the NBA media rights shifted away from TNT.

Shaquille O’Neal Reflects On Kobe Bryant And The 2004 Finals Collapse

Shaquille O’Neal (Image Credits: Imagn)

In a recent conversation with actor Dax Shepard on his popular Armchair Expert podcast, Shaquille O’Neal revisited the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss in the 2004 NBA Finals. While reflecting on his partnership with Kobe Bryant, O’Neal drew a vivid comparison to The Godfather film series.

“And if you look up at our relationship, it’s the classic tale of The Godfather. You got the Godfather that came from Orlando, and he’s the Godfather. But you have a young capo. And finally, he’s Michael (Corleone), I’m the Godfather, because remember when I came to LA, I was already established,” Shaq said.

In the 2004 Finals, the heavily favored Lakers shockingly fell to the underdog Detroit Pistons in five games. The defeat marked the end of an era. O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat shortly after, where he went on to win another championship in 2006