Shaq to join Inside The NBA?

[Mavs4Life]

According to CNBC’s Darren Rovell, recent retiree Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to join TNT’s broadcast team, thus potentially creating the most fascinating team in sports broadcasting history with him and the always entertaining Charles Barkley.

Shaq chose to join the Turner team over ESPN, who were also vying for the Big Diesel’s services.

While no official announcement has been made, speculation is that Shaq will be replacing Chris Webber on TNT’s Inside the NBA. And despite Webber being rather enjoyable as a studio analyst this past year, both Barkley and Kenny Smith are viewed as untouchable in the TNT universe, and with Shaq the sought-after free agent, room needed to be made on the TNT set.

The pairing of O’Neal and Barkley is just another reason to hope for the lockout to come to an end, especially if the two wind up butting heads on the set with the same intensity that they did on the court.

A rumor now, but highly possible. If Shaq replaced Webber, I'd miss him though C-Webb was pretty funny.

[Andrew]

No, it belongs here in NBA & Basketball Talk. No reason it wouldn't.

I'm in two minds about this. Shaq is obviously a larger than life personality and an entertaining individual, but he's not necessarily a great orator. Despite making some All-Interview teams back in the day, he'd often mumble his way through interviews and appeared disinterested in talking, neither of which are great qualities for an analyst. It's certainly an interesting prospect though, hopefully it proves to be entertaining.

[NovU]

Another Barkley in making? With Barkley still with the TNT team, we just got double the headaches or perhaps the increased entertainment value. I will miss Webber for sure but I am also interested to see how this will pan out to be.

[[Q]]

i would figure he'd replace Mchale who took the rockets job. anyways, they need to bring back gary payton on NBA TV

[shadowgrin]

This.

they need to bring back gary payton on NBA TV

[JaoSming]

c0nr4d retweeted this

Turner acknowledges Shaq has signed a multi-year deal with Turner. Will work w/Barkley, EJ & Kenny Smith

[Andrew]

Indeed, seems it's official.

I still wonder just how well it's going to work out given his tendency to mumble, but I'm sure it'll be fun to watch him on the crew regardless.

[shadowgrin]

At least someone now can shut the fuck up Kenny Smith when he goes smug again because of his two rings.

[Andrew]

I'm not sure anything can silence Kenny Smith.

[Jeffx]

Shaq is funny, but the monotone speech has to go.

[_Steve_]

Shaq is funny, but the monotone speech has to go.

He was pretty funny at Conan O'Brian.

[BIG GREEN]

Kenney smith does tend to get annoying ...and I hate his teeth. However, he's always had that dynamic with charles barkley from 2000 when they all started working together so I knew shaq wouldn't be able to take his job like he's been saying for years. Shaq will definitely be the new big dog, literally and figuratively. He's funnier than charles and had a better career than charles and kenney smith combined. He probably didn't go to ESPN cause I know he hates skip bayless..lol. Chris webber and his flip flopping opinions won't be missed. There is no one I'd rather see more than shaq analyzing my nba games.

[NovU]

Shaq gets rejected. Not your usual marriage proposal but...

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal ... nba-wp7592

[kevin02]

Shaq should be interesting. I think he'll either make the show much more entertaining or go in the opposite direction and ruin it.

[Andrew]

Shaq gets rejected. Not your usual marriage proposal but...

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal ... nba-wp7592

"You're too old for me." Good stuff.

[Andrew]

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