It\u2019s unclear if it was a Freudian slip or his way of mocking the team, but Charles Barkley called the New York Knicks \u201cthe Dicks\u201d during halftime of Saturday night\u2019s ESPN on ABC coverage of the Knicks\u2019 game against the Houston Rockets. And it left Shaquille O\u2019Neal on the verge of tears in laughter.<\/p>\n
Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson asked Barkley, \u201cHow did the 13-point lead vanish so quickly for New York?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I think that the Dicks, to me, their offense got stagnant,\u201d Barkley said.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neal and Kenny Smith immediately started laughing, with Shaq particularly struggling to contain it as the halftime show carried on.<\/p>\n
Charles Barkley calls the New York Knicks the \u201cDicks\u201d and sends Shaq rolling. \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83d\udcfa\ud83e\udd23 #NBA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9JkcbiRX3k<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A few minutes later, Inside the NBA shared a couple of social media posts from viewers.<\/p>\n The first social media post asked why O\u2019Neal was laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I was talking about my good friend Dick Vitale,\u201d O\u2019Neal said. \u201cLove you, Dick Vitale.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDick Vitale is a great man, isn\u2019t he?\u201d Barkley responded.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he is,\u201d O\u2019Neal agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish that were actually the reason,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n Shaq: \u201cBecause I was talking about my good friend Dick Vitale. Love you, Dick Vitale.\u201d<\/p>\n Chuck: \u201cDick Vitale is a great man, isn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n Shaq: \u201cYes, he is.\u201d<\/p>\n Ernie: \u201cI wish that were actually the reason.\u201d \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83e\udd23 #NBA<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/UaHUb3qVZZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9Mh3e0kbZ0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe New York WHAT, Chuck?\u201d was the other X post, which Johnson read on the show before laughing hard. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to play the tape back for you, man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, play it again,\u201d O\u2019Neal said. \u201cSay it again, Chuck.\u201d<\/p>\n Even with ESPN, the Inside the NBA shenanigans are still alive and well.<\/p>\n Perhaps word got back to the Knicks about Barkley\u2019s team name phrasing and sparked a comeback.<\/p>\n The Knicks trailed by 18 points with under 11 minutes remaining and completed their biggest comeback of the season in a wild 108-106 victory at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n The Knicks take the lead after trailing by 18!<\/p>\n Mike Breen with the ESPN on ABC call. \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f #NBA<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/UaHUb3qVZZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aRz5wT624I<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \t