Tag: shaquille o’neal

Shaquille O’Neal challenges Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce to a basketball game

#Chiefs GM Brett Veach might have to make an executive decision on this one. | from @EdEastonJr

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Kansas City Chiefs all-pros Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will be hitting the golf course together when they participate in “The Match” charity golf challenge, against NBA’s Golden State Warriors all-star pair of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, for a 6:30 p.m. start on June 29 on TNT.

Mahomes was a guest on TNT on Thursday night before the network’s NBA playoff coverage. Speaking with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, the two-time Super Bowl champion had fun with the crew assessing his golf skills, ankle recovery, and boasting about his abilities on the basketball court leading to a challenge from a Hall of Famer.

“It’s good. It definitely took a lot longer than I expected to heal.” Said Mahomes regarding his ankle recovery, “But at this point, now, I’ve been able to run around, get some golf balls, throw the football around you whatever. And I’ve been in a good spot. And that’s been working on my jump shot too. So I’m happy to show you all that at some point.”

Mahomes’ comment sparked a challenge from O’Neal, trying to get the reigning league MVP and Kelce in a two on two basketball game. “I don’t know, you’re not moving really well, so I might have a chance,” said Mahomes jokingly as O’Neal reminded everyone he has a new hip after surgery recently.

The former Texas Tech multi-sport athlete addressed his and Kelce’s golf game and chances heading into next month’s showdown.

“Yeah, so my game, I’m actually pretty consistent with how ugly my golf swing technically is. I’m kind of figuring it out. A baseball player that plays golf. Trav (Travis) has a long swing, but when he hits it right, he hits it really far. So I’m hoping in the scramble shamble or whatever format it is to help us,” said Mahomes. “Obviously, we know Steph is a scratch golfer, so that’s kind of the guy that we were gonna be shooting, trying to go against. And then Klay. I’ve heard a little bit, but I’m sure he can golf a little bit. Being up there and being buddies with Steph. I’m sure they get out on the course. But like I said, I think the competitor in me and Trav that we’re going to come out we’ve actually won a celebrity tournament at the Wynn before, so we’re trying to make sure the trophy stays in our hand.”

The duo was victorious last year in the inaugural “8AM Golf Invitational” hosted by Justin Timberlake and Wynn Las Vegas. Let’s see if lightning will strike twice at the same course for next month’s event.

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Charles Barkley tried a comically awful Boston accent and the Inside the NBA crew loved it

The way that Charles Barkley said Ernie Johnson is going to haunt you forever.

Saw Ernie at Fenway Park eating chowder on top of the monster.

That is all TNT’s Charles Barkley was asked to say last night during a segment on Inside the NBA. But the twist was that he was asked to say it using an accent like he was from Boston.

I know Chuck spent many years of his professional career in the Western Conference playing for the Rockets and the Suns. But he also played several years in Philadelphia for the 76ers, so we have to assume with the proximity that he has heard someone from Boston speak at least once or twice.

But based on how his line reading about Ernie Johnson hypothetically devouring a chowder soup at a Red Sox game, I’m now less convinced Barkley has any idea what someone from Boston might sound like.

It gets off to a rough start immediately. I saw Urrrr-knee. 

The word that he changes the most from his normal speaking voice is the name of his colleague, Ernie Johnson. I’m not entirely sure what regional dialect he thinks he is switching to for this one, but it seems like a fictional land where everyone sort of speaks like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Honestly, the way that he says Ernie in this video is going to haunt me forever. Am I ever going to be able to hear the name “Ernie Johnson” again without thinking about this video? Is this going to impact how I perceive any other Ernie as well?

While I’m not from Boston, I believe that this would be the correct line read: I sawr Ernie at Fenway pahk eatin’ chowdah on toppa the monstah.

Ernie didn’t have to have his name changed whatsoever!

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Did Shaquille O’Neal blame his crypto legal saga on Steph Curry while interviewing him?

Both individuals were named in a class action lawsuit filed against FTX.

Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion, and was honored on TNT’s Inside The NBA Tuesday night.

During the segment, Shaquille O’Neal offered him his congratulations and called Curry his favorite player. But he also told Curry, “Thanks for getting me in trouble. Don’t say nothing. Be quiet.”

O’Neal didn’t provide any other details as to how exactly Curry got him in trouble, and as instructed, Curry didn’t add any additional information either. For all we know, the Golden State sharpshooter and the former NBA big man found themselves in some sticky situation we’ve never heard about.

But as noted by Underdog Fantasy’s Rob Perez, Shaq and Curry do have a connection. Both were affiliated with the bankrupt company FTX, which was a celebrity-endorsed cryptocurrency giant.

At least $1 billion of client funds went “missing” at the failed firm, per Reuters. Those who lost money joined a class-action lawsuit filed against FTX and its founder Sam Bankman-Fried. The lawsuit alleges over $5 billion in damages on behalf of the class.

Shaq and Curry (as well as Tom Brady, Naomi Osaka, Trevor Lawrence, Shohei Ohtani, and the Warriors) were listed in the lawsuit. Here is more from Sports Illustrated:

“[The lawsuit] alleges FTX and the former CEO violated Florida law by misleading customers. The lawsuit claims these individuals, among others, ‘either controlled, promoted, assisted in, and actively participated’ in the alleged scheme where they ‘aggressively marketed’ FTX.”

As for why Shaq may blame the Golden State guard: Curry’s off-court business portfolio, SC30, signed an endorsement deal with FTX in August 2021. Curry then became a global ambassador for the company, was given an equity stake, and starred in a commercial for FTX in March 2022.

Shaq, meanwhile, was also featured in a commercial for FTX that was released in June 2022. But in December, during an interview with CNBC Make It, Shaq said that his “friendship” with Curry was the only reason he ever filmed the commercial.

Lawyers have reportedly struggled to find Shaq to serve him papers for the lawsuit.

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Chicago Bulls OTD: Michael Jordan’s SI cover with Shaquille O’Neal

ON THIS DAY in Chicago Bulls history, Michael Jordan graced the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside Shaquille O’Neal.

ON THIS DAY (1995)—If you gave time machines to every Chicago Bulls fan on the planet, most would set the date to the 1990s. Michael Jordan was running the show, Scottie Pippen was by his side, and the Bulls were on top of the world. There have been some fun, talented Bulls squads since then, but nothing will ever compare to Jordan.

Time machines don’t exist, but we can still take a glance at the past. And on this day 28 years ago, May 22, 1995, Jordan graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Chicago’s series against the Shaquille O’Neal-led Orlando Magic had just wrapped up, with Jordan losing to the youngster after returning to the sport just in time for the postseason.

The cover showed Jordan meeting O’Neal at the rim with the words “Battle of the Titans” printed on the front page in large font. Two of the biggest figures in sports going head to head were bound to create a spectacle, and the people got their money’s worth.

O’Neal was great during the series, putting up 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles in all but one game, including a 23-point, 22-rebound performance in Game 5.

As for Jordan, he also played well, outside of a 19-point dud in Game 1. He had 38 points or more in three of the six games, but it wasn’t enough to take down O’Neal and the Magic.

Although the season has an asterisk next to it because Jordan only played in 17 regular-season games, O’Neal took down the Bulls in the middle of their dynasty. At the time, he was 23 years old, but the big man was already shaping up to be a legend.

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Shaq hilariously chanted ‘We want Haslem!’ along with Heat fans during blowout win

Shaq joined the fun for his former teammate, Udonis Haslem.

The Heat defeated the Celtics to take a commanding series lead in the Eastern Conference finals, and Miami fans had some fun in the process.

Late in the fourth quarter, it was fairly obvious that the Heat were about to officially clinch an unpredictable 3-0 series lead against the Celtics. Some fans in the building were eager to see veteran big man Udonis Haslem.

Haslem, who is 42 years old and is currently the oldest player in the league, has confirmed this is his last professional season. He was greeted with a big standing ovation when he checked into the game for his final regular season game last month.

Haslem has played in the 11th-most playoff games among all active players in the NBA. But he did not play during postseason runs for Miami in 2018, 2020, 2021 or 2022.

Haslem had not logged any playing time in a playoff game since 2016 but played just over two minutes during the postseason in 2023 thus far, briefly appearing during an opening-round win against Milwaukee.

Miami fans, however, want to see the center get some late-game action once more on Sunday. Loud chants for “We want Haslem!” were heard on the TV broadcast and captured on video by fans at the arena as well.

Perhaps best of all, though, is that even Shaquille O’Neal joined the fun.

O’Neal was attending the game for the pregame show, halftime show, and postgame show on behalf of Inside the NBA on TNT. Earlier in the game, O’Neal was honored by the PA announcer and was welcomed by the crowd.

It was amazing to see O’Neal get hyped in the crowd for Haslem.

O’Neal and Haslem are former teammates and they started alongside each other in the frontcourt when Miami won the NBA championship against the Mavericks in 2006.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra did not end up putting Haslem in the game. But we can hope to see him on the court once again before he retires.

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Boston Celtics legend Ray Allen shares his all-time starting five (plus one)

Take a look at the Shuttlesworth Six, as we have decided to call them.

As one of the greatest to shoot the rock in the history of the NBA, Hall of Fame Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen knows a thing or two about the sort of excellence that sets great players apart from the very, very good ones on his way toward winning titles with the Celtics and the Miami Heat.

And the University of Connecticut alum recently used that discernment to share the players who comprise his all-time starting five, even throwing in his sixth man for good measure while speaking at a meet-and-greet attended by Fadeaway World’s Ishaan Bhattacharya (h/t Bleacher Report’s Doric Sam).

Let’s take a look at the Shuttlesworth Six, as we have decided to call them.

Shy and insecure? According former Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal, that was who he was as a kid

The former Boston bog man opened up about his youth in an interview with Graham Bensinger.

Quite possibly the last thing in the known universe one might call former Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal would be shy or insecure. Yet the Hall of Fame big man admitted that when he was a child, he was bullied and made fun of for being soft-spoken and having an unusual name.

That he also had a speech impediment back then certainly did not make life easier for O’Neal, a topic he spoke about briefly in an interview with the host of the eponymous “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” show.

The Big Aristotle showed a vulnerable side many might not even believe existed given how outgoing and self-sure Shaq has seemed to be over the decades in the NBA spotlight and as a broadcaster after.

Check out the short clip embedded below to hear the story from the man himself.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Shaq issued the hilarious ‘I wasn’t familiar with your game’ apology meme to Devin Booker

Shaq: ‘I’m sorry. I owe you an apology.’

The Phoenix Suns tied the series against the Denver Nuggets, 2-2, and Devin Booker is playing at the highest level of perhaps anyone in the NBA.

Booker scored 47 points (20-25 FG, 5-8 3P) when Phoenix secured their first win of the series against Denver on Friday. After the game, though, Inside the NBA studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal said that he didn’t think Booker could do it again.

Booker finished Game 4 with 36 points (14-18 FG, 3-4 3P) as well as 12 assists while recording another victory. It was another masterful performance from Booker, who is ascending to another level of stardom this postseason.

This time, after the game, Shaq felt he owed Booker an apology:

“Devin Booker, I’m sorry. I owe you an apology. I got on TV and said you would not go 20-for-25 again. You messed around and went for 14-for-18 … so, sir, I apologize. I love the way you’re playing.”

If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the exact same energy he used when he apologized to Christian Wood after a 27-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs.

I Owe You an Apology. I Wasn't Really Familiar With Your ...

The iconic Shaq apology has become a meme format on Twitter and fans were quick to whip up a new version of the meme.

This time around,  it didn’t take long for fans to create photo edits like this one to create the same vibe.

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Which Boston Celtics have the highest postseason winning percentages?

The Boston Celtics have won an NBA-record 17 titles in the nearly eight-decade history of the storied ball club, putting their players in a great position in terms of the percentage of games they have won in the postseason.

The Boston Celtics have won an NBA-record 17 titles in the nearly eight-decade history of the storied ball club, putting their players in a great position in terms of the percentage of games they have won in the postseason.

And while the bulk of those titles came to Boston in the epic run of the Celtics as the dynasty of NBA dynasties in the late 1950s and early 1960s under the tenure of Hall of Fame Celtics Bill Russell and Sam Jones, a fair amount of playoff series were won in the Boston resurgence of the 1980s during the “Original Big Three” era of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, John Havlicek nearly bridging the gap between the two reigns.

Let’s dive into which Boston alumni had the best winning percentages in the playoffs (h/t Hoops Hype for the data).

Q&A: Ernie Johnson on life behind the scenes as the host of Inside the NBA

Ernie Johnson: ‘Improvising and letting it rip is exactly how we like to do the show.’

Ernie Johnson Jr. has one of the most recognizable voices on television.

He regularly contributes to NBA TV, Major League Baseball on TBS, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on CBS and Turner, and he was also the longtime lead play-by-play announcer for TNT’s golf coverage.

But he is most celebrated for his work on TNT’s Inside the NBA, which he has hosted for more than 30 years. Johnson is joined on Inside the NBA by analysts Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.

During his professional career, Johnson has won multiple Sports Emmy Awards for Best Studio Host. He was also named the National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association in 2021.

Johnson recently showcased everything that makes him such a talented broadcaster when he facilitated a fantastic discussion with O’Neal, Barkley and Smith on Giannis Antetokoumpo’s comments about how to define failure in sports:

For The Win had a chance to catch up with Johnson, who provided some insight about his experiences hosting Inside The NBA.

“It’s a great time of the year. I love sitting down and getting ready for these games,” Johnson said. “That’s where I’m at right now: Basically staying here until 3 a.m., going home and coming right back and doing it the next day. You’re catching me right in the middle of another day of getting ready.”

Johnson, indeed, keeps an incredibly busy schedule, and the Inside the NBA crew holds an impactful place in the sports media landscape. During the broadcast of Inside the NBA on Tuesday, Johnson and his team announced that Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid had won the 2022-23 MVP.

It was just another day at work for Johnson and his colleagues, who regularly create some of the most hilarious and thoughtful coverage that you will find. But when it is all said and done, he is grateful for the opportunity.

“Every night of the playoffs brews the stuff that has your jaw on the floor,” Johnson added. “We’re four guys sitting around getting paid to watch hoops, alright? Life is good.”

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.