Charles Barkley was unaware of who Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is

Charles Barkley was asked by his NBA on TNT co-hosts which team Mark Daigneault coaches. He was unaware it was the OKC Thunder.

Let’s play two truths and a lie about Mark Daigneault.

  1. He is the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder
  2. Born in Canada, he has a hockey background
  3. Charles Barkley was unaware of who he is up until the other day

The first one is true. The second one, as far as we’re aware, is the lie, though if we’re being completely honest, he hasn’t been asked about hockey in an interview since becoming the Thunder head coach. The third one is true.

On the NBA on TNT segment “Who He Play For,” a piece of the show in which Barkley’s co-hosts ask him to name which team journeyman NBA players are currently on, Ernie Johnson ended with a bonus question. On the screen was Daigneault, and Barkley was asked which team he coaches.

“Oh that’s easy …. I know that one,” Barkley said. “…The Indiana Pacers?

Wrong. Barkley started cracking up on the screen as he finished his day 0-for-6 in the guessing game.

“He’s got a hockey name! I bet he’s from Canada!” Barkley said.

Daigneault was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, a bit south of Canada.

It’s only been three games following a shortened offseason, so we can forgive Chuck for not knowing — especially considering he earned goodwill from the Oklahoma City fan base in August after betting Shaquille O’Neal $500,000 that the Thunder would beat the Houston Rockets in the first game of the playoffs.

But still … let’s get down these coaches’ names.

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