Shaquille O’Neal roasts ‘Inside the NBA’ co-host Charles Barkley with brutal one-liner… as fans insist this is why the TNT show should survive

Inside the NBA, further proof of why it deserves to stay on the air came as Shaquille O’Neal delivered an all-time one-liner at the expense of his co-host Charles Barkley.

The two NBA legends have provided fans with relentless entertainment on the hit TNT show, which faces the axe, and once again provided hilarity during their coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

Before Game 3, in which Luka Doncic and company took a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals, Shaq took the opportunity to roast his fellow analyst.

Shaq couldn’t resist making fun of Barkley as the analyst regaled the crew, including beloved studio analysts O’Neal, Kenny Smith, host Ernie Johnson and guest Draymond Green, about his pregame walk on a sweltering Sunday in Dallas .

“I was taking my daily walk and about half a block and I said tear it down, tear it down,” Barkley said, talking about the heat.

“I walk every day to find some peace and quiet by myself, but I stopped today,” he further explained, before Shaq joked, “You walked to get something? Pizza and quiet?’

The one-liner had fans on social media in stitches as many called for the show’s survival.

“The NBA needs to find a way to keep this show on the air. It’s just too good,” one user posted in response to the clip on social media.

“This needs to be saved,” said another, before a third added: “They can’t get rid of this!!”

“This is what they are trying to take from us,” one fan wrote, referring to the banter between the co-hosts, while another chimed in and said, “I will miss this banter next year.”

Another wrote: ‘It will be a tragedy if this show ends one day lol.’

The one-liner had fans on social media in stitches as many called for the show’s survival

Meanwhile, one social media user had a slightly stronger reaction, channeling a Batman villain. ‘nba is canceling this show. I’m going for the full Joker,” they said.

Last week, it emerged that the NBA formalized written contracts with ESPN, NBC and Amazon on new TV deals worth a combined $7.4 billion per year.

According to Sports business magazinenegotiations with all three companies entered the “final stages” of what was a huge blow to TNT and their long-running show “Inside the NBA.”

There may still be life in the show, however, as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver offered TNT a glimmer of hope.

Outside the White House State Dinner last week in Washington, DC, Commissioner Silver said, “We’re all still talking. Who knows how it’s going to end?’

Adam Silver (pictured with wife Maggie Grise) has revealed that talks with TNT are still ongoing

ESPN, NBC and Amazon appeared to have beaten TNT and its program “Inside the NBA” to rights

It was reported that ESPN will pay $2.8 billion a year for the league’s highest-rated games, including the NBA finals, a conference finals, weekly primetime clashes and the WNBA.

NBC, meanwhile, plans to allocate $2.6 billion annually for the “B” package, which would likely include a show called “Basketball Night in America” ​​that airs on Sunday nights after the NFL season.

According to SBJ, NBC would also secure a conference semifinal, a conference final and two primetime slots per week.

Amazon’s deal – which would reportedly be worth up to $2 billion – would involve the In-Season Tournaments, first-round playoff games and the WNBA.