Shaq crashes NBA Countdown set and tackles Kendrick Perkins live on air
Shaqtin’ a fool.
The NBA Countdown crew got a massive surprise when Shaquille O’Neal crashed their set while on air.
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O’Neal made a surprise appearanceCredit: X/@CLUTHPOINTSThe 7-foot-1 giant politely shook the hands of Malika Andrews and Bob Myers before making a beeline to Kendrick Perkins.
“Hello Malika, hello Bob,” O’Neal began.
“Hold this, because I’m tired of Kendrick Perkins,” O’Neal said as he gave Stephen A. Smith his microphone.
O’Neal then playfully speared Perkins in the chest, trying to tackle the fellow big man.
READ MOER NBAThe whole crew was laughing.
The Big Aristotle is set to be an employee of ESPN next season when the iconic Inside the NBA flagship program moves from TNT over to ESPN.
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley are all set to follow O’Neal.
TNT’s version of the show said goodbye to its home network after the Indiana Pacers Game 6 victory over the New York Knicks, putting an end to their run on Turner Sports.
ESPN bought the programming rights to the show beginning next year.
It seems O’Neal just wanted to get a head start on greeting his new co-workers.
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O’Neal and Perkins were playfully joking aroundCredit: X/@CLUTCHPOINTSAnd the audience seemed to love it.
“Shaq just showed up to crash the set of #NBACountdown and completely livened up the set,” one fan posted on X.
“And so it begins,” another fan commented.
“Shaq has made his cameo on ABC/ESPN. Please Disney, don’t ruin Inside the NBA for us. Let Ernie and the boys do their magic,” one more chimed in.
The feat with Inside the NBA moving to ESPN is that the show’s new network is going to try and change it.
And that of course would be a huge mistake.
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You don’t fix what isn’t broken.
And by all reports, ESPN plans to leave the show as is.
ESPN and ABC are the home of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
