Shaquille O’Neal tried to buy two pieces of basketball history on Inside the NBA.
Iconic auction house Sotheby’s sent a representative to show off a pair of iconic NBA jerseys, going under the hammer in March and April.
The first was a Chicago Bulls top believed to be from Michael Jordan‘s rookie year.
Incredibly, the letters and numbers had been replaced after originally belonging to different players due to the Bulls’ financial difficulties, per Sotheby’s.
MJ’s jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals went for a record $10.1 million in 2022 and this latest piece, being sold this month, is expected to fetch a similar fee.
April will see Bryant’s No.8 from his regular-season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers up for sale.
According to the auctioneer, it could be even more valuable than Air Jordan’s memorabilia.
After checking if MJ’s jersey was signed and being shown the message ‘My very best, Michael Jordan’, Shaq had seen enough.
With an estimated net worth of $500 million, the four-time NBA champion certainly has deep pockets.
“$20,000,” he shouted, later confirming that was for both jerseys.
Co-hosts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith were not about to let a deal pass them by.
They managed to get the bidding up to $50,000 and offered to pay up front in cash as a sweetener.
Unsurprisingly, none of the former stars were successful with their offers and they were a few zeros short.
It wasn’t all fun and games on set as Barkley called out First Take over its analysis — Chuck and Co. will be moving from TNT Sports to ESPN next season.
“I saw a fool, idiot, on TV talking about the Lakers saved the NBA,” Barkley said. “He’s an idiot and a fool, but you know who he is. … Kendrick Perkins.
“First of all, the Lakers are having a great two weeks. He said, the Lakers saved the NBA season. That’s because them fools on the other network, which we’re gonna be working for next year, that’s all they talk about.
“Let me tell y’all something – and first of all, I want all the smoke. I don’t whistle when I walk by the graveyard or anything like that.
“The Lakers are doing great. Got a long way to go. The season’s been going great for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Y’all just want to talk about the Warriors and the Lakers.
“They’re both doing great. Don’t get me wrong. If I turn out to be wrong, I’ve got no problem with that. But y’all are idiots because y’all talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 12 straight games. Oklahoma City’s got the MVP and they are on fire. Y’all are talking about who’s in second place. That’s the reason I get pissed.”
Perkins was not about to take the comments lying down.
“Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around,” he posted on X. “When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy.
“He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homeboy and we bar none and fade all. #TexasBoy“
Stephen A. Smith also hit out at Barkley on social media.
“Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the “y’all.” Attach a name to it. I know I’ve been talking about @cavs being the No.1 threat to the @Celtics,” he wrote. “Once you come over here, there’s gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool. P.S. You know I love ya, though. See y’all soon. Yo @TheJetOnTNT….workbook those free throws . Love y’all.”
There could be some interesting showdowns around the water coolers at ESPN when the Inside the NBA crew move in.
