Long Before Will Smith-Chris Rock Slapgate, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Had a Similar Altercation Until Their Mothers Stepped In

Will Smith’s slap that was heard around the world had fans bring up old stories. People shared Will’s old interviews all around the internet. Same with Chris, as they bring up clips of him and Will together. But this altercation is not fully unique, as there were instances where something similar happened.

There was a time when Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal would either punish his opponents on the court or go at them off the court. Dealing with altercations that happened during the game off the court can be concerning. Players might hurt each other to a point where someone might get injured.

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley almost got into a street fight

In 1999, the Lakers took on the Rockets, and a fight broke out mid-game. Charles Barkley was fouled and just then Shaq tapped him. Barkley was upset and hit Shaq back with the ball. The next second, both of them got into a fistfight while their teammates tried to separate them. Though it wasn’t over yet, as both were ready to continue after the game. But Shaq couldn’t wait to get out of the locker room and deal with it.

“As soon as I got to the locker room, I already had him in my mind. I’m not washing…, I’m putting my clothes on. I’m getting straight to it. Imma knock his a** out on sight.”, said O’Neal in The Big Podcast with Shaq.

Things got pretty intense at this point. Even Barkley was ready to get at it until their mothers got involved. Both the legends got a call from their mothers and were told to stop the fight and shake it off.

“I got that call from the queen and Charles’ mom was on the line. They said ‘y’all need to stop that, two legends should not be doing that.’ No, his mom and my mom said the same thing, that two legends shouldn’t be doing that in front of all these kids and look up to them.”

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Shaq and Chuck shook it off

A person can be of a certain age to the world but will always be a child to his mother. Shaq respects and loves his mother more than anything, and at that point, he had to listen to her. Even Charles got the call from his mother, telling him the same thing.

Shaq didn’t have any second thoughts after his mother told him not to continue his fight. After that call, Shaq calmed down and avoided getting into an altercation with Barkley.

“And like when she said that, it just all… I’m like mamma you right. And then when I’m walking the hallway he already out there cause his mamma gave him the same message. And we shook and we laugh and we been boys ever since.”

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It was indeed better to shake it off, or else both would’ve got themselves into serious trouble. Fights like these that end up backstage cause authorities to step in. The ramifications of the fight could have also been detrimental to their careers. But since it was a call from their mothers, both had no choice but to forget about what happened and laugh it off. This probably saved them from a world of trouble and misfortune that could have followed.