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‘He Done Stacked His Team’: Charles Barkley Needs Towels Live on TV After Heated LeBron James Debate With Shaquille O’Neal

Bring in the sweat towels! Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have never needed much encouragement to turn a basketball discussion into a personal showdown.

Yard Barker

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 1:49 AM

Key Things to Know

Charles Barkley required towels on set during a heated Inside the NBA debate regarding LeBron James.
Barkley argued that LeBron James repeatedly stacked rosters and should hold more than four championships.
Host Ernie Johnson proposed that James' stints in Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles each warrant Hall of Fame status.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Charles Barkley needed sweat towels live on Inside the NBA following a passionate debate with Shaquille O’Neal over LeBron James' legacy. Barkley rejected the notion that James has had four separate Hall of Fame careers across his various team stints, arguing that James routinely stacked his rosters and should have won more than four championships as a result.

Shaquille O’Neal countered by asserting that NBA superstars are supposed to actively push front offices to recruit top talent. The televised exchange escalated as O'Neal teased Barkley about his lack of championship rings, prompting host Ernie Johnson and the production crew to step in with towels as Barkley worked up a visible sweat.

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