Chuck finally won! Veteran analysts Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal are usually the ones competing against each other. It is not rare for Chuck to join but rare for him to win. However, the golden opportunity came this Thursday when he successfully defeated his colleague. Not only did he have to endure some jibes for the Inside the NBA cast, but fans weren’t letting the opportunity slip either. 

In the latest segment of the show, Barkley and Smith competed in the popular ‘race toward the board’. While The Jet was initially ahead, the 4 x NBA champ ultimately caught up and won in dramatic fashion. This foiled Smith’s plan, given, just a few days ago, he had lost to O’Neal.

When the two competed, something dropped from Smith’s suit, slowing him down and ultimately causing him to give up. Host Ernie Johnson and Chuck were ruthless in criticizing him for quitting. That’s when Smith claimed that he would make up for it by defeating Charles Barkley.

This board race has been running for quite a long time on the show, and the results are equally important to the cast. The origins are said to stem from the crew taking a shot at Kenny Smith’s keens, due to which he’d walk real slow towards the screen. The rest had a kick out of it, running to beat him to the imaginary finish line. It has grown to be a regular competition now; though the results may not differ much. 

Both times, the culprit seemed to be the same, Smith’s knees. They have unintentionally been the frequent subject of laughs and conversations. Even among fans. 

Fans didn’t spare Kenny Smith’s knee issues

The first one to troll was the Philadelphia 76ers legend who continued to tease Smith for minutes after the race had ended. He was soon joined by fans on social media. “Kenny’s legs look like they don’t belong to him,” a fan wrote.

The Jet has been battling the knee issue since he was in high school. The former Denver Nuggets star has revealed his growth plate had broken off and was dislodged inside the joint of his knee after he had raced to a subway station in 11th grade. His injury healed, but he still seems to feel the pain. 

“The knee pain in this race is evident,” one observed. 

Despite the magnitude of the injury, Smith hadn’t stopped. His father had shown him two paths: succumb to the injury and become a lamb, or overcome and become a Tiger. We know what he chose. But only for it to be turned into a source of entertainment years later. And Smith is just as invested too.

“Kenny’s knees were about to snap !!!” another fan wrote. The former NBA star’s competitive edge cannot be denied, seeing him overcome all hurdles to make it to the NBA and make it big. So fans respect the 59-year-old. Maybe why they enjoy pulling his leg as well.  “Ain’t turn on the jets Kenny’s legs just facing the wrong way,” a comment read.

One though, had empathy for Smith’s legs. “Kenny knees lookin at him like bro it’s time to stop this shit,” they wrote. There seems to be no way out for Kenny, except that he better get that next win.