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Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley went to ‘couples counseling’ in TNT’s latest promo for the NBA playoffs.
The love-hate bromance between the two NBA legends has been a big part of their success on Inside the NBA. Apart from being reliable analysts, the pair often engage in heated and hilarious verbal exchanges from across the desk.
In the network’s promo for the postseason, NBA hall of famer Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving played their therapist as O’Neal and Barkley went on with their usual back-and-forths. ‘It’s the playoffs, what bring you two in here today,’ Erving says.
‘Why are you looking at me,’ O’Neal asks, to which Barkley tells Dr. J: ‘Do you really have to ask?’
The ad then cuts to one of their viral exchanges on the program, in which O’Neal tells Barkley: ‘I will knock your ᴀss out.’ Barkley laughs and calls his colleague ‘Mr. Sensitive.’
Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley went to ‘couples therapy’ in a new ad for the NBA playoffs
Sessions with the Doctor have begun. @JuliusErvingShaq and Chuck go to “Couples Counseling” 🫂 pic.twitter.com/m3lPXHY6zc
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 29, 2024
Barkley and O’Neal both serve as analysts for Inside the NBA on the TNT network
It cuts back to the therapy session where they pᴀssive-aggressively pᴀss the phrase ‘I’m looking at you’ around. Erving then cuts them off to talk about the stress of the playoffs.
‘Look, I know it can get stressful this time of year. I’ve been there,’ Erving tells the pair.
‘But great teammates build each other up,’ he continues as a montage of highlights took the screen while Barkley and O’Neal exchanged angry looks. ‘They set each other up for success. They trust that the other will be there for them when they need it the most.’
The two analysts then argue about who Dr. J was referring to before Erving tells them to do a trust fall. O’Neal was appointed to fall so Barkley could catch him. However, with his partner behind him, the four-time NBA champion comedically fell forward onto a glᴀss table.
The two Hall-of-Famers are known for their frequent back-and-forth exchanges on national TV
The promo ends with O’Neal falling forward during a trust fall exercise with Barkley
‘You set me up, Doc,’ O’Neal says while shaken up. ‘You set me up.’
‘I told you he was a dummy,’ Barkley tells Erving.
The NBA Playoffs will begin on April 20 and air on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. O’Neal and Barkley will join the usual crew with Ernie Johnson and Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith through TNT’s coverage.
TNT coverage will end when the NBA Finals air solely on ABC starting June 6.
