Shaq bolts mid-segment for emergency bathroom break on Inside The NBA [VIDEO]
Shaquille O’Neal’s Sudden Exit Leaves Inside the NBA Crew In Shock and Laughter
Shaquille O’Neal is known for keeping things lighthearted and unpredictable on Inside the NBA. But during halftime of Game 2 between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, even his co-hosts were left speechless.
In a hilarious and now-viral moment, Shaq abruptly left the set mid-segment to take an emergency bathroom break. The unexpected exit occurred while Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson were discussing Kawhi Leonard’s dominant first half for the Clippers.
“You can’t underestimate the other thing about Kawhi—” Smith started before glancing off-camera. “You all right, big fella?” – Barkley asked.
Shaq, visibly uncomfortable, didn’t say much as he shuffled off screen. Kenny didn’t miss a beat. “That’s that olive oil you been drinking!” Meanwhile, Barkley continued with his signature jokes against Shaq that he’s become known for. As a result, the internet truly ate this one up.
A Bathroom Break Heard Round the NBA
The crew burst into laughter as Shaq disappeared behind the set. “He couldn’t hold it. After 40, you can’t hold it!” Kenny joked. “That was not a planned exit.”
According to the crew, Shaq had recently been drinking olive oil to “clean out his gut.” Whether it was a new health regimen or just bad timing, the moment became one of the most hilarious and relatable in Inside the NBA history.
“Take some matches with you!” Kenny added, while Barkley joked, “I didn’t like his gait as he left—that was not a typical walk.”
Normally, it’s Charles Barkley doing the roasting on Shaq. Both Shaq and Chuck are the resident comedians of the show. While they all rag on each other, those two hold it primarily for themselves. At the same time, they often go after Kenny and Ernie, too. Then, they all roast each other, and the players in the game. But last night, it was Kenny going in on Shaq.
Social Media Reacts
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) couldn’t get enough of the moment:
@lilr3DD_CHS: “It’s that olive oil you been drinking.”
@KbgJay1990: “I eat on company time, I use the bathroom on company time. – Shaquille O’Neal 🤣”
@JShampansky: “Take some matches with you, Chuck is hilarious.”
@LuisMSoto4: “Could we say Shaq, Paul Pierced his pants?”
@WarmandFuzzy7: “When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.”
Even Bleacher Report uploaded the clip to YouTube, captioned: “Shaq Had to Take a Bathroom Break in the Middle of a Segment 🤣” with nearly 20K views in just hours. Meanwhile, the clip that was uploaded to X has reached one million views overnight.
Shaq Returns With Jokes
Just minutes later, Shaq returned to the desk with a serious expression, sipping water while Barkley and Smith continued clowning him. They wasted no time kicking their good friend while he was down. In addition, they did so in the most hilarious way.
“Charles talking so damn much, I couldn’t even get a word in,” Shaq fired back. “Y’all too busy bullying me!”
Ernie Johnson tried to refocus the show, but by then the moment had gone viral. Over the years, Ernie has gone from being the serious panelist to being just as in on the jokes as the rest of them. While Shaq, Kenny, and Charles are the former players and personalities, Ernie is the journalist. But with moments like these, it’s hard for anyone to maintain composure.
Through his career, both as a player and broadcaster, Shaq has always led with his humor. That’s one of the main reasons he’s in so many commercials. Fans on social media even joked that Shaq is going to use this moment to get himself even more endorsements. If/when that happens, that will lead to even more commercials.
The Game That Sparked the Break
The halftime segment interrupted by Shaq’s urgent exit came during Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series. On April 21, 2025, the Clippers defeated the Nuggets 105–102 in a nail-biting finish to even the series at 1-1.
Kawhi Leonard led the way with 39 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals, including a halftime buzzer-beater three-pointer. James Harden added 17 points and 8 assists, while Ivica Zubac contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokić posted a triple-double—26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists—but struggled at the line and with turnovers. Jamal Murray scored 23 points, and Michael Porter Jr. added 15 points and 15 rebounds despite spraining his shoulder late in the game.
The tightly contested battle featured 18 lead changes, and Leonard’s defensive stop in the final seconds secured the win for Los Angeles.
A Legendary Night of Chaos
Beyond the game itself, the night also saw major headlines off the court. Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 due to complications from a stroke, and Kanye West ignited the internet with a disturbing personal revelation tied to his new track, “Cousins.”
50 Cent, who was at the Knicks game in New York, summarized the night with his own viral post: “The Knicks lost, the pope died, and Kanye said what? I’m going to bed.”
Amidst all the drama, Shaq’s mad dash to the bathroom provided a moment of comic relief the sports world didn’t know it needed. Definitely, the moment Shaq had is something everybody can relate to, especially those who are getting older. But the odds of this being the way a wild news day was capped off is something no one could have predicted.
One for the Inside the NBA History Books
Inside the NBA has long been known for its unpredictability, but this incident will surely go down as one of the show’s funniest unscripted moments. With fans still buzzing and the video trending across platforms, Shaq may have just given us another timeless highlight—just not the kind he used to deliver on the court.
Unlike some of the show’s previous hilarious moments, this one came without mystery. In 2018, a roast session between Shaq and Charles Barkley had fans wondering if they really had beef. After the game, they had to explain the dynamics. Last night, there was no confusion. Everybody was laughing at Shaq over his nature call.
As for whether he’ll continue his olive oil cleanse? That remains to be seen.