FANS appear to have figured out why Shaquille O’Neal was mysteriously absent from Inside the NBA on Sunday night.
It was a big night in the NBA, but Shaq was absent from the crucial Game 7 matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Instead, NBA legend Vince Carter took his place at the table alongside Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley.
Posting on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, Shaq said: ‘Hey Charles, Kenny Ernie and Vince Jenna said hi.’
It could very well be that Shaq’s comment references a joke Barkley made to the team last year.
After the 76ers legend exclaimed “Jenna” during an on-air segment, Shaq asked, “Jenna Who?”
In turn, Barkley responded, “Jenna Tahls,” sending the rest of her co-hosts into fits of laughter. It’s possible he was spelling an anagram.
Meanwhile, some fans suggested that Shaq was at his daughter’s graduation.
Shaq’s daughter Me’arah referenced the big day on her Instagram feed.
The 6-foot-2 star is carving out his own path in basketball, deciding this year to play for the Florida Gators instead of LSU, his father’s alma mater.
The future of TNT’s Inside the NBA has been in doubt recently.
NBC is reportedly bidding for the rights to air NBA games.
Meanwhile, Shaq recently revealed that he already had retirement plans in place.
He talked about the future when speaking to YouTube sensation Funny Marco on The Big Podcast.
“When I turn 60, I’m going to check into the nursing home,” Shaq said.
“It’s a place in Orlando called The Villages and it has the highest rate of STDs in the country. I’ll be there.”
Inside the future of the NBA?
The operation of the NBA on TNT Sports is in doubt due to the NBA’s broadcast agreements.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA ends after next season and NBC is preparing a bid to take over those rights.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it will raise questions about the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which would snatch the rights from the NBA.
Basketball legend Shaq, 52, was with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004.
During that time, he helped the Lakers win three NBA titles.
He was also named to seven All-Star teams in that eight-year span, establishing himself as one of the greatest to ever play the sport.
O’Neal won his fourth championship with the Miami Heat.
He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Since his playing days ended, he has established himself as a major media personality.
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