Was Charles Barkley drunk throughout the NBA All-Star draft?
Barkley got called out by Shaquille O’Neal, who said he sounded drunk while discussing LeBron James’ All-Star reserve selections throughout the TNT broadcast ahead of the 2023 All-Star game.
“Ain’t no bad picks today, all these guys are great,” Barkley said slowly, seemingly dragging out his words.
That’s when O’Neal chimed in: “Why does it sound such as you’re drunk? You alright?”
Barkley replied, “No man, it’s my mic,” to which O’Neal disagreed.
“No, it ain’t the mic, it’s you,” O’Neal said before he mocked Barkley’s attempt at saying Mark Cuban’s name. “… What the hell are you drinking?”
Barkley continued to say it was his mic that was causing his speech to sound different, adding, “No, it’s my mic, I got a delay.”
Ernie Johnson, who also appeared like he had audio issues at one point, weighed in, saying, “All the time blame it on the equipment.”
O’Neal, though, wasn’t buying any excuses.
“No that’s you, you’re drunk,” he said laughing. “I would like to thank Patron for sponsoring Chuck.”
Then, Kenny Smith, who was sitting in between O’Neal and Barkley, entered the conversation.
“It is a dry state,” he said repeatedly.
At one point throughout the All-Star festivities, Barkley didn’t sound thrilled concerning the state laws in Utah.
“These people going to heaven,” Barkley said. “There ain’t nothing to do on this boring-ass city. It’s an ideal city, but ain’t nothing to do here. Can’t smoke. Can’t drink. These people going to heaven.”
It’s unclear what exactly went on behind the scenes at TNT during its 2023 NBA All-Star broadcast. There gave the impression to be audio issues on various occasions throughout the night – including throughout the draft portion when O’Neal and Barkley were heard bickering on a hot mic.
“Say something Chuck, I’ll smack you with this mic immediately,” O’Neal could be heard saying while Johnson was on stage facilitating the draft.
“I’ll inform you what, there ain’t enough people to drag me off of your ass,” Barkley replied, to which O’Neal said, “Don’t say one other word.”
When Barkley mocked O’Neal, saying, “one other word,” the pair could be heard laughing before the audio issues ended.
