Inside the NBA made its Christmas Day debut on ESPN with maximum chaos, and all the credit goes to Shaquille O’Neal, who crashed through a massive LED screen on the set.
The legendary studio show brought its unfiltered energy to the holiday slate again. During halftime of the New York Knicks versus Cleveland Cavaliers opener, Shaq and Kenny Smith turned a playful segment into a destructive spectacle, but absolutely in a funny way.
Shaquille O’Neal Destroys ESPN Set Inside the NBA Christmas Special
The playful but wild moment perfectly captured what makes the crew of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal irreplaceable. They continue to deliver the same chemistry that earned them 21 Emmy Awards over 36 years.
And their move to ESPN hasn’t dulled the edge. If anything, Christmas 2025 proved they’re still a must-watch television crew when it comes to both analysis and entertainment in the same place.
However, the Christmas chaos started not through a prank but a playful tease, something this crew is well known to do in the majority of the episodes. Kenny made the move first by stealing Shaq’s holiday hat, setting off a race across the set toward the big video board.
THIS IS THE GREATEST SPORTS SHOW IN THE WORLD 🤣@NBAonTNT1 pic.twitter.com/RrwqZEk8Ef
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) December 25, 2025
It should be another classic “Inside the NBA” horseplay, but the Big Diesel took it to another level. O’Neal ran after Smith but lost control and slammed directly into the board.
His over 300-pound size made it hard for the ESPN LED screen to absorb the hit. The consequences ultimately resulted in Shaq crashing into the display, and the light started flickering as smoke filled the entire studio. Johnson and Barkley broke into laughter in disbelief.
But viewers soon started to assume that the crash was staged for entertainment, as safety cushions behind the screen did not go unnoticed. Shaq has been in a wrestling ring and several commercials, so selling the moment was just muscle memory. The crew executed the gag flawlessly, generating instant buzz across social media.
But not everyone bought it. So, the authenticity debate set another layer in the already funny ambience.
Fans Split on Whether the Moment Was Scripted
The clip exploded online, racking up millions of views within hours, and people didn’t shy away from bringing their definite opinion to the table.
One fan wrote, “And to think, a LOT of people hate on this one of a kind show still continuing, and having its first Christmas Day episode.”
Another noted, “Needed that laugh. Well done.”
One viewer added, “i think they meant to do that, screen does not break like that.”
A fourth remarked, “Jumped the shark.”
Whether the crash was planned or not doesn’t really matter, because everyone ended up laughing. What counts is that millions watched, laughed, and shared it. That’s “Inside the NBA” — unpredictable, unfiltered, and completely true to who they are.
