Watch: Shaquille O'Neal hilariously gets pushed into a Christmas tree by Kenny Smith
Shaquille O'Neal and the NBA on TNT Christmas tree have a little bit of history over the years. While covering tonight’s game between the LA Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, Kenny Smith hit Shaq as they raced to the studio’s giant screen.
The hit sent the 7’2 360-pound O’Neal flying into the Christmas tree and hitting several carefully gift-wrapped boxes along the way. Shaq sold the bump very well as the collision with the unsuspecting decorative tree looked so natural.
KENNY LAUNCHED SHAQ INTO THE TREE 🎄💀 https://t.co/WBltT8jflx
O’Neal’s acting chops are well-regarded, particularly for a retired basketball player. He outweighs the diminutive Smith by at least 100 pounds. Despite the obvious disparity in size, it took little more than a slight nudge to send Shaq flying into the Christmas tree.
The race to the studio’s screen to diagnose certain plays, a hit and then O'Neal colliding with the Christmas tree, is not something new. Both have collaborated before, about seven years ago, to pull off the same hilarious stunt.
Back then, O’Neal was quicker, a little trimmer but still definitely bigger than his co-host. Shaq surprisingly outran Smith going to the board and was a step ahead when Smith shoved him into the Christmas tree. It took him a little longer to get up from that hit compared to what happened last night.
@NBAonTNT Reminds me of this 7 years ago. Good times https://t.co/atavhPFWtF
The hit by Kenny Smith and the ensuing collision with the Christmas tree didn’t seem to bother Shaq. He was all smiles and was even in a more jovial mood than before the whole incident took place.
About an hour after the original tree crash happened, the four-time champ returned for more.
“I dive into that tree right now and break some more branches.”
Shaq: “Say I won’t dive into that tree right now”
Ernie: “You won’t dive into that tree right now”
Shaq: https://t.co/Rf9fQftk6Y
Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley couldn’t believe what they were hearing. They all pleaded with Shaquille O'Neal not to do it. Ernie Johnson was so positive O’Neal wouldn’t do it again that he didn’t even ask the big man the way the others did.
It is a mystery that the Christmas tree is still standing after two collisions with Shaq. The NBA on TNT studio will likely have a sparkling new Christmas tree next Thursday as it was all but destroyed by the man-mountain O’Neal.
Shaquille O'Neal took a shot at Kenny Smith in last night’s episode of “Shaqtin’ A Fool”
Shaquille O'Neal's “Shaqtin’ A Fool” segment has probably become as sought after as TNT’s coverage of the NBA. In last night’s episode, Shaq took a shot at Kenny Smith.
Smith initially took a slight dig at Shaq for saying Shaq wasn’t funny if not for the system. O’Neal had a quick bounce-back when he described Terrence Davis’ pass as "like Kenny’s joke.” The crosscourt pass was hilariously wayward.
Shaquille O'Neal saved his best shot at Kenny Smith when a video showed Jalen Green refusing up a wide-open dunk to pass to a teammate. Shaq said:
“Name a more iconic duo than a Houston guard and Shaqtin’ a Fool.”
"Name a more iconic duo than a Houston guard and Shaqtin a fool." 😂
Kenny makes an appearance in this week's edition of #Shaqtin 🤣 https://t.co/DIlQp96ZCR
The original Jalen Green video was then embedded with a retro Kenny Smith entrance and a failed dunk.
With Christmas and New Year happening in a few weeks, more of Shaquille O'Neal and the NBA on TNT cast could light up the holidays.