Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have a complicated working relationship. The two regularly antagonize each other on live television, and sometimes their arguments turn into name-calling and threats of fights (which never materialize).
However, there’s also a more tender side to their relationship. Despite their adversarial nature on TV, the two are friends and mostly just like to mess with each other on and off camera.
Barkley’s latest little prank on Shaq came on the TNT crew’s flight home from New York on Wednesday, when he noticed Shaq had fallen asleep and decided to sneak up on him for a little “birthday kiss,” being that O’Neal had his birthday on Monday.
Chuck's present to @SHAQ for his birthday? 🤔
A special birthday kiss! 😘 pic.twitter.com/Pynn1QNyKe
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 10, 2017
It’s pretty funny as O’Neal wakes up and looks around in a bit of a stupor, slowly realizing what happens as Barkley stands a safe distance away with a big, guilty grin on his face and everyone else had their phones out to capture the video. Shaq simply laughed it off, but his face would indicate that this isn’t going to be forgotten.
O’Neal likes to imagine himself as a comedian and prankster, so Barkley is going to have to watch his back for awhile, because Shaq is going to be coming for him at some point soon. Hopefully Chuck will keep an extra close eye the next time Shaq offers him a Krispy Kreme, what with Shaq having a little extra clout there and all.
