Shaquille O’Neal is back at it again. Watching the TNT crew wrap up their final NBA All-Star was a nostalgic moment, but an even more thrilling opportunity lies ahead. After scouring through deals from Amazon, NBC, and more, Charles Barkley has pledged his loyalty to TNT. Chuck isn’t jumping ship anytime soon. While both Johnson and Chuck subtly hinted at their commitment as the show heads to a different network, O’Neal once again played his ‘fire me’ joke to tease the fans.

This week, O’Neal opted for a bizarre outfit choice. While he stuck to the usual blazer and tie, he paired them with bright red pajamas. When Chuck pointed it out saying, “What did Drake say? We start at the bottom now we here we still at the bottom,” O’Neal quickly added, “What are they going to do? Fire me?” leaving the crew in splits. Did he hint that he is leaving or was it just a reminder that the show will be on a different network starting from the next season? This isn’t the first time.

With Turner licensing Inside the NBA to ESPN from the 2025-26 season, this year was the TNT crew’s last All-Star event. However, before the All-Star break, O’Neal hilariously dropped a wrong word and covered it up. “I’m tired as s—, America. We’re getting fired anyway, Ernie. F— it!” he said. He did it again during halftime of the game between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers. 

As the crew discussed Kevin Durant’s argument with head coach Mike Budenholzer, O’Neal once again joked as he swore and signed off with, “We’re getting fired anyway.” The whole exchange is amusing, but viewers and netizens can’t help but have two major concerns. One is why O’Neal’s pajamas look so similar to Dwight Howard’s pants. The two don’t seem to share a great bond! And the other is O’Neal’s rumored $15 million deal. While the latter remains unaddressed, Big Aristotle has clarified the former.

Shaquille O’Neal jokes about his now iconic pajamas!

In response to netizens’ confusion over his pajamas, the Los Angeles Lakers legend dropped yet another baffling joke, sparking another round of laughter from the crew. “Because your mama worked for Amazon, send to the wrong address. Tell your mom to have my packages on time,” O’Neal jokes . 

While O’Neal’s jokes are very amusing, it has also left fans puzzled. Despite him constantly joking about possibly getting fired, Front Office Sports reported that O’Neal has already secured a $15 million deal with TNT. As per this deal, he will be paid nearly $15 million per year. O’Neal’s initial contract is set to expire in July, but after much speculation, it seems he has finally sealed the deal and will be staying with TNT. Even if it makes a shift to a different network.

Meanwhile, studio host Johnson has subtly shown his commitment to the show, following Barkley’s lead. “ I’m glad that we’re able to salvage the show even though it’s not going to be on TNT,” he said on The Draymond Green Show. The show is expected to continue with the same team and crew, just on a new network. However, an official statement is yet to be announced.