Mother Lucille Possibly Saved Charles Barkley and Rockets Legend From Getting Shut Down by her 7 ft Son Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal played in the NBA for 19 years and won everything there is to win. That too more than twice. Shaq was a menace in his playing days. He was not a great shooter and only had just one three-pointer all his career. However, he was lethal with his driving runs and insulting dunks. Shaq was a physical player, and no matter how calm and funny he was off the court, he used all his anger on the court.

Shaq post retirement has had a special relationship with his co-hosts on Inside The NBA on TNT. All three of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and especially Charles Barkley have too much fun in the studios. Even when they are simply talking about the events of a game, analyzing it, praising or criticizing a player, or doing different random things. There is never a dull moment.

This just sums up how hilarious everyone involved in the show is. But there was a time when Shaq did not like the fact that Kenny and Charles used to sit in studios and judge Shaq’s game and even more so criticize when he had a bad one.

WATCH THIS STORY: How Shaq and Chuck forced NBA to change rules.

Shaquille O’Neal wanted to shut Kenny and Chuck up!

In the recent episode, The Big Bacon, on The Big Podcast with Shaq, Shaq admitted he got furious whenever Rockets legend Kenny and ‘Chuckster’ used to criticize the big man’s game. He revealed how his mother Lucille’s words helped him channel his anger into his game.

“What I used to do, I just used to take the criticism and feed it to my anger tank. Once I got tired of being swept, that’s when the beast came out and it was good. My mother, Dr. Lucille O’Neal said you have to try to find the truth in criticism. Like I used to hate watching Chuck and Kenny. Y’all bums sitting out here talking about me. Like they would’ve if Shaq made those free throws. Like whenever they used to criticize me, I used to get so mad. I [used to] try to play a great game and go home just to see what they say. Like that was my job. Imma make you shut the hell up! That’s all I’m gonna do.” Shaq shared.

Shaq said this about how his now co-workers used to get on his nerves and his mother’s words helped him channel that anger into his performances. The conversation started while they were discussing Kevin Durant, taking the criticism from Charles Barkley and co. a little too personally.

Also read: Shaq clarifies Kevin Durant’s criticism in support of Charles Barkley.

Chuck and Kenny have been a part of the show for around 20 years now. Shaq and Ernie have also had quite a few years hosting Inside the NBA. The four of them absolutely love working there together and their chemistry is amazing, entertaining and absolutely hilarious.