Shaquille O’Neal goes rogue in X-rated rant on live NBA show

The basketball legend yelled “we’re getting fired anyway” as he stunned onlookers with a wild rant on a live NBA broadcast.

As the curtain slowly draws on one of the NBA’s most popular shows, Shaquille O’Neal made the decision to vent his true feelings.

Inside the NBA, which airs on TNT in the United States and Kayo and Fox Sports in Australia, is in its final year before it moves to ESPN/ABC in the US next season.

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Hosted by Ernie Johnson and featuring NBA greats Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and O’Neal, it first launched way back for the 1989-90 season and has won a whopping 19 Emmy Awards.

It now faces an uncertain future, although ESPN has committed to bringing it back in some form next season.

Following a new NBA TV rights deal signed last year, TNT will no longer broadcast live games, with ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon signing an 11-year, $120 billion deal for the 2025-26 season onwards.

Watch Shaq’s rant in the video player above

Shaquille O’Neal (left) had the guys in stitches after his wild rant. Photo: X

Rarely one to hold back his emotions, 52-year-old O’Neal took things to a whole new level on Friday (AEDT) during halftime of Oklahoma City’s clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves, one of the last games on the schedule before this weekend’s All Star festivities.

It all related to a long-running gag on the show, when the panellists race to be the first to touch a giant screen at the back of the studio.

Shaq was walking back to the desk after jokingly racing Barkley when he expressed his true feelings in front of a live audience.

“In the words of Marshawn Lynch, I’m tired as s**t, America,” O’Neal said as the panel started cracking up.

“We getting fired anyways Ernie. F**k it!”

Inside the NBA pannelists Kenny Smith (left) and Charles Barkley. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP)

Friday’s episode of Inside the NBA was held at Pier 48 in San Francisco ahead of the NBA All-Star Weekend, which is being held at Golden State’s Chase Center.

Lynch, a former running back and Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, was credited with a number of memorable quotes during his career.

While we couldn’t find a quote similar to the one O’Neal dropped on Friday, the man with one of the great nicknames in all of sport, “Beast Mode”, produced a number of pearlers across his glittering career with the Bills, Seahawks and Raiders.

He told the media repeatedly “I’m just here so I won’t get fined” prior to the 2014 Super Bowl.

He also said: “I know I’m going to get got, but I’m going to get mine more than I get got, though,” in reference to his running style and intent to run over his opponents.

O’Neal and Kobe Bryant (left) won three titles with the Lakers. Photo: AFP

Coincidentally, or perhaps it was Shaq’s inspiration for his outburst, Lynch had been on the Inside the NBA set earlier in the evening.

Fans were loving O’Neal’s impromptu comments, and lamenting the possible demise of the show, on X.

“It won’t be the same without them,” was one comment.

“Love this crew,” wrote another.

“Shaq is not hiding anymore lol,” laughed a third.

“This crew cannot leave bro,” stated a fourth.

“Bookmarked … this is GOLD. Shaq for the W,” offered another.

O’Neal was one of the most dominant centres in NBA history, winning three consecutive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and a fourth with the Miami Heat before retiring in 2011, launching a hugely successful second career off the court.

Originally published as Shaquille O’Neal goes rogue in X-rated rant on live NBA show