SHAQUILLE O’Neal jokingly walked off the NBA on TNT set after being trolled.
The NBA Hall of Famer big man, 51, had his ‘Superman’ nickname made fun of by his Inside the NBA colleagues.
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal walked off the Inside the NBA TV set after being trolled by his colleaguesCredit: Twitter/NBAonTNT
The program acknowledged Dwight Howard as Superman, a nickname that Shaq believes is his own moniker when it comes to the NBACredit: Twitter/NBAonTNT
O’Neal walked away from the desk as the TV cameras followed him and fellow colleague Kenny Smith yelled, “Superman has left the building”Credit: Twitter/NBAonTNT
O’Neal made 15 All-Star teams and won two scoring titles and four NBA titles during his 19-year career from 1992-2011.
Due to his 7-foot-1 inch, 325-pound frame, he was considered “Superman” by many.
But future eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard entered the league in 2004, and won the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest after wearing a Superman cape and having an iconic dunk in the process.
Shaq has since taken exception to Howard claiming the same moniker and still believes he’s the one and only NBA Superman.
During Inside The NBA on Thursday, Adam Lefkoe, filling in for usual host Ernie Johnson, told TV viewers, “How could we forget when we’re speaking of Supermen, a basketball big man that tore up the league.
“A first pick in the draft. “The Orlando Magic. “The one, the only …”
O’Neal sensed that the troll was coming, smiling and pointing at Lefkoe, who pretended to tease his name only for Howard’s picture of himself dunking with the Superman cape to appear on the screen.
“Dwight Howard!” yelled Kenny Smith, one of the analysts of the show. “Superman is in the building!”
Shaquille then slowly walked off the set as the cameras continued to follow him.
Smith, Lefkoe and NBA icon and analyst Charles Barkley laughed at the scene.
‘You gotta teach me how to slide,’ says Charles Barkley as NBA on TNT analyst makes unexpected announcement live on air
“Superman has left the building,” Smith said. “And I’m still talking about Dwight Howard.”
O’Neal then found a nearby trash can and comically threw garbage on the floor.
Lefkoe then said, “Someone is throwing things,” as Barkley asked, “Who’s cleaning that up.”
Inside The NBA has one 18 Sports Emmy Awards for its NBA coverage and banter.
