SHAQUILLE O’Neal and Stephen A. Smith didn’t cover themselves in glory during a live TV challenge.
And fans predicted the rival basketball analysts could end up being “meme of the year.”
Stephen A. Smith joined the TNT pregame show for a special challenge[/caption]
Smith was with Shaquille O’Neal before the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas[/caption]
ESPN personality Smith joined the Inside the NBA crew on TNT Sports for a special showdown on Saturday.
Both networks were in Las Vegas, Nevada to broadcast the semifinals of the NBA Cup.
But before the action at T-Mobile Arena, Smith appeared on the TNT pregame show.
He was due to take on TNT star Kenny Smith in a free-throw competition before the first semifinal.
The contest took place in the plaza outside the arena in front of a live audience.
And Smith showed his prowess in beating the former NBA player over five free-throws.
Smith and Shaq then went head to head in a 3-point contest.
But both of them struggled to even hit the rim or backboard in a woeful display of shooting.
Smith ended up taking the honors on the rival show thanks to his free-throw shooting.
He was able to at least make a 3-pointer after a number of attempts.
Shaq’s co stars Smith, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson all struggled as well.
One fan said the show will be, “meme of the year.”
Another wrote, “They trying to miss?”
While a third posted, “The barrage of air balls had me weak.”
TNT broadcast the first semifinal of the NBA Cup Saturday afternoon.
How the NBA Cup works
The NBA Cup returned for a second season this year with the finals once again set to take place in Las Vegas.
The 30 teams were split into six groups of five teams each with games taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays from November 12 to December 3.
The six group winners and two best wild cards advance to a quarterfinals stage on December 10 and 11.
And the final four head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 14 and the final on December 17.
All games count towards the team’s regular-season record, apart from the championship game.
The Eastern Conference showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks tipped off at 4.30 pm ET.
And ESPN took over for the later semifinal.
They showed the Houston Rockets take on Western Conference rivals the Oklahoma City Thunder.
TNT is in the last year of it’s NBA rights deal having lost out to Amazon Prime.
Inside The NBA struck a deal to save the show and be licensed to ESPN from next season.
The NBA Cup is in it’s second season and the final will be played Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
The championship game is live on ABC from 8.30 pm ET on Tuesday.
LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to glory in the inaugural tournament last season.
