Apart from their analysis, Inside the NBA has won multiple awards for their connection with the fans. From arguing, to fighting, to boxing, and running, they have done it all inside and outside the studio. This year is expected to be the last year since TNT is taking it to court with the media rights battle. Amidst the doom and gloom, Ernie Johnson recalls his favorite moment, which unsurprisingly involves a joke at  Charles Barkley‘s expense.

“I do kind of always gravitate toward the Champions Club when we said you couldn’t get in for halftime unless you had a ring and we locked Charles out.” Ernie Johnson has been the host of the show since 1990 and spoke of how they rubbed salt on Chuck’s wounds. “As we went inside, we were able to look out at Charles waiting outside and say, come on it’s the Champions Club Zan Tabak is asking about you. Mike Penberthy wants you in here.”

Yes, they purposely listed lesser-known player who had won a championship to their names. And since the name suggests it was mandatory to have a ring, that’s why the 76ers legend couldn’t get in. At the time, the studio panel consisted of Magic Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. EJ even mentioned that the segment didn’t require any rehearsals, and it worked like a charm.

“That was one of those segments that we didn’t rehearse that, it was just kind of this might work if we try it. It just all came together, Chuckster, that was in one of his early years. ‘Oh, ya’ll playing a trick on the Chuckster.’ That remains one of my all-time favorites,” Ernie Johnson spoke to SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Magic Johnson, post his retirement, did not turn to the analyst role quickly. In fact, he joined in 2003, 3 years after Charles Barkley became part of the show. The Lakers legend even credited Sir Charles, “The best thing on TV is Charles Barkley bar none. There’s nobody on TV in sports better than Charles Barkley. That’s why it’s the best on TV.” Recently, even Chuck shared his views about his best friend and the early days of Magic Johnson’s successor.

Charles Barkley was worried about the chaos the Lakers’ legend would cause

The current quartet was complete when Shaquille O’Neal joined after his retirement. Magic Johnson left TNT in 2007, and in 2011, that seat was permanently occupied by Shaq. We all know, how much the Lakers legend wants to put up a show, and he had multiple ideas in his mind. On the Podcast P with Paul George, Charles Barkley revealed the issue with the over-enthusiasm.

“Yo man, are you trying to outdo yourself every damn night? And we had to sit down as a team and say ‘Shaq, it doesn’t work like we got too far to go. You’ve only been here two weeks.’” He even credited O’Neal for becoming a great addition, but not before admitting about his fears. “And like I say, that’s when we came out like this dude gonna set himself on fire any day now.”

Charles Barkley even accepted that bantering and provoking Shaq was the highlight of his day. With the future still in the air, the upcoming season would highly be nostalgic, and fans could expect some more over-the-top jokes, shots, and whatnot as the crew prefers “Going out with a bang,” as Ernie had stated.