Shaq bombards ESPN's ‘NBA Countdown' set before NBA Finals Game 1
It looks like Shaquille O'Neal is wasting no time making himself comfortable at his soon-to-be new network.
O'Neal invaded ESPN's 'NBA Countdown' set on Thursday minutes before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder.
Midway through the show, O'Neal made his way onto the set and was met with tons of laughter from hosts Stephen A. Smith, Malika Andrews, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins.
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5 Shaq joined the ESPN set before NBA Finals Game 1.
5 Shaq joined the ESPN set before NBA Finals Game 1.
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O'Neal, who was carrying an ESPN microphone, told Smith to 'hold the mic' while he went over and started to mess with Perkins.
'Hold this,' O'Neal said. 'Because I'm tired of Kendrick Perkins.'
'Is this HR, man?' Perkins said while O'Neal went over and gave him some playful shots during an aggressive hug.
5 Shaquille O'Neal walks on the court before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunders on June 5, 2025 in Oklahoma City.
AP
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O'Neal's surprise appearance came shortly after Smith infiltrated his segment on NBA TV ahead of Game 1, walking onto the courtside set and caressing the four-time NBA champion's head.
'Get your hands off of me, Stephen A. Smith,' O'Neal said through laughter.
This exchange marks O'Neal's first appearance on ESPN following 'Inside the NBA's' end on TNT.
5 Stephen A. Smith reports from the sideline during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals on May 26, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis.
NBAE via Getty Images
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Turner is set to still produce the show while licensing the rights to ESPN.
'Inside the NBA' on TNT officially ended at the end the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday after a 25-year run on the network, with emotions flying high during the crew's final remarks on the last show.
'It's been a great run, been an honor, Chuck [Charles Barkley], love you like a brother I will still whoop your ass,' O'Neal said. 'I'm glad we're sticking together. Even if the network changes, the name stays the same.'
5 Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Jalen Rose, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk before the Knicks' season-ending Game 6 loss to the Pacers on May 31, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
NBAE via Getty Images
'To [ESPN] we are not f–king around,' O'Neal closed with, which was met with widespread applause from the Indiana crowd.
Ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, O'Neal remained hopeful on the network shift, but stated that he, nor any of the other hosts, plan to change their show.
'And whatever network we're coming to, we're bringing the pain. Just letting you know right now. OK, I know everybody's sad that, 'Oh, it ain't gonna be the show.' The show is still here, baby. You can never kill the four horsemen. We coming, and we coming to take spots. We coming to kick ass and we coming to take names. And we doing it our way.
'You know, all the sadness about that show. We coming with a whole brand new show, and we don't care who in our way. We coming to kick ass and take names. The name changes but the boys are here. We them boys.'
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