5 Times Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Have Shown No Mercy to Adam Silver’s Blockbuster NBA Initiative

The In-Season Tournament has left more than a few analysts scratching their heads. Even those at TNT. Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley had a lot to say about the NBA’s side quest. Inside the NBA’s best duo didn’t hold back when given the chance. They sought clarification on what the tournament meant to hyping the fierce competition and then downplaying it again.

The inaugural tournament ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the cup and LeBron James winning the MVP. However, Chuck and Shaq would rather get back to the regular season. Here are 5 instances where the TNT big men made light of the NBA’s newest initiative.

1. Charles Barkley wants to keep it simple

After a day off from TNT to celebrate his best mate, Ernie Johnson’s induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Charles Barkley went off on The Dan Patrick Show. The Lakers hanging a banner for their tournament win has left a bad taste in many people’s mouths, including Chuck’s.

“You don’t do champagne for the In-Season Tournament… If [the Lakers] put that In-Season Tournament banner up, I’m going to roast their a** on television,” Barkley threatened.

Looks like he has started. And it’s been a sentiment he held before the tournament even began.

Earlier this year, Barkley grilled Commissioner Adam Silver about overworking the players through the tournament. During the tournament, however, he enjoyed the fierce competition the dazzling prizes brought out but not much else.

2. Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t want to attach his name to it

4x NBA champion, including a three-peat winner with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t care for the tournament’s shiny hardware. He and most of the TNT crew weren’t feeling it after the NBA unveiled the In-Season tournament court design.

“I wouldn’t want to be known for winning back-to-back in-season tournament championships,” dissed the 2000 NBA MVP. Ouch.

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Shaq equated the NBA Cup to an All-Star ring or MVP trophy. But nothing comes close to an NBA title to him. “It’s not something I’m circling down on my calendar.”

3. Chuck’s eye is on the title

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, as they say. According to the NBA’s official Spanish language profile, Barkley advocated it. “This tournament belongs to Las Vegas, it has nothing to do with the NBA.”

As such, he doesn’t think King James has five rings to his name, though the individual players got medals. He’d rather see non-NBA players in this tournament, advocated Chuck.

4. Sir Charles the brand manager

Unlike the Finals, the tournament takes place on the neutral site of Las Vegas. The court designs created quite the buzz but not in the best way. Charles Barkley remarkably chose his words carefully to describe it.

“You know this is something new; obviously, it is. It started yesterday. The courts are interesting, to say the least. You know, I just hope that they are successful, but then that’s the thing. The success in basketball helps our brand, but man, those courts are ‘Whoooo!’ They are something,” Barkley said.

5. It’s about the money to Shaq

When the 76ers suffered an upset against the Cavaliers, O’Neal was hard on them. He saw the problem was the Sixers underestimated their opponents because their eye is only the cash prize.

“I’m going to just keep it real, they not fighting for the trophy, they fighting for that $500,000,” the Big Aristotle remarked.

READ MORE: Proud Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal & Co. Celebrate TNT Legend’s “Unsullied” Legacy, Leaving HoF Hall in Splits

Interestingly, Chuck repeatedly questioned if the $500,000 grand prize was a worthy incentive to million-dollar contracted players. What do you think about their opinions on the NBA Cup?