One-time San Antonio superstar Shaquille O’Neal had some words of encouragement during ESPN’s pregame tip-off show before Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, June 10. Unsurprisingly, San Antonio’s No. 1 public enemy Charles Barkley had to clap back.
O’Neal told the crew that the Spurs are not afraid of the Knicks after their 115-111 win in Game 3 on Monday, June 8. He went so far as to say the Spurs should be up 2-1 were it not for Wembanyama’s errant pass in Game 2.
“If Victor Wembanyama didn’t throw the ball off of the kid’s back they’d have won that game,” O’Neal said. “My point is the Knicks don’t strike any fear in their hearts. You have to beat the system.”
Barkley, hated in San Antonio for his jokes about the city’s “big ol’ women” and calling the River Walk a creek, had to chime in saying “Nobody’s afraid of anybody. You can’t say what should’ve could’ve happened.”
O’Neal ended the discussion by saying “You’re always wrong” to Barkley, but it was another example of their frequent on-screen arguments that have come to define their TV relationship.
Shaq may have become an NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, but the Alamo City always has a soft spot for the 7-foot-1 Hall of Famer as a graduate and state champion of Cole High School. Barkley meanwhile will never be forgiven for the churro jokes.