NBA fans were shocked, just like anyone else, to see Charles Barkley’s brand new physique after the basketball legend clearly shed a ton of weight before the new season. Barkley made an appearance on screen after quite a while on the first episode of ‘Inside the NBA’ after the show switched networks to ESPN.
Apart from a little excessive flattery on Barkley’s part, the first episode of the new show also saw some crazy remarks coming from Shaq. Shaq could not help but comment on Barkley’s weight loss, even going on to call him a “sex symbol”.
“Chuck was fat last year. Now look at him. He’s a sex symbol (laughing with tears emoji)” Shaq said about Charles Barkley in the first episode of ‘Inside the NBA’.
Shaq:
“Chuck was fat last year. Now look at him. He’s a sex symbol.” 🤣
(h/t @awfulannouncing)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 22, 2025
While everyone easily agreed that Barkley had certainly lost plenty of weight over the last few months, different fans had different theories as to how the player actually managed to lose weight. Some even theorized that the player might be on Ozempic.
“He’s on ozempic (crying emoji)” a fan theorized in the comments section.
“Nah what tf Chuck got going on man (neutral face)” another fan said.
“He still fat” one fan pointed out.
NBA Fans Still Feel Strange About ‘Inside The NBA’ Being On ESPN
While many NBA fans are indeed happy that ‘Inside the NBA’ will continue to power on, others feel strange about the show being on ESPN. The show was on its way to be cancelled for good until it was basically rescued by ESPN. Barkley and others had no other choice but to acclimatize themselves to their new home, and that too quickly, despite them trolling the same network for years together before.
“3 black dudes talking about nothing on tv sponsored by a fried chicken company (laughing with tears emoji x5)” one fan noted about the show.
3 black dudes talking about nothing on tv sponsored by a fried chicken company 😂🤣😂🤣😂
— Double Vaccinated Prick (@kburnside77) October 23, 2025
“Shaq already tryna get the crew in trouble (laughing with tears emoji)” another fan said.
“ESPN logo doesn’t look right with these guys” yet another fan remarked.
In another segment of the same episode, Charles Barkley basically recited an ode to ESPN, stating that everyone who’s touched a ball wanted to be on the network. His co-host Kenny Smith could not hold back a clap-back as he asked Barkley if he needed a napkin after sweet-talking the network, perhaps a little too much. Smith’s words were especially more humorous since Barkley has taken a number of opportunities to mock ESPN in the past.
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