'YES MA'AM!'
Stephen A. Smith reveals Shaquille O’Neal’s mom ‘rolled up on me’ and called on First Take star to ‘do your job’
Smith was full of praise for the four-time NBA Champion
FIRST Take star Stephen A. Smith and NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal go way back.
The ESPN analyst, 56, and NBA Hall of Famer, 52, have a relationship that goes back around three decades.
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Smith recently gave an insight into their relationship in an appearance on The OGs Podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.
Discussing his "love" for the four-time NBA Champion, Smith recalled how they first met after he had critiqued O'Neal.
He said that when called out by O'Neal, he stood his ground, something that would go on to occur on several occasions.
Eventually, a friendship between the two grew, but at the request of O'Neal's mom, Lucille, he didn't let up on the legendary big man.
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"I give his momma and his late dad, the Sarge, major credit because mom would get on me," Smith said.
"I mean, mom rolled up on me, momma Shaq rolled up on me."
"She was mad, because she loves me [and] I love her to death and the whole bit, and she rolled up on me one day and was like, 'You're too soft on my son.
"'I don't like the fact that you're letting him off the hook. Do your job! Hold him accountable!'"
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To which Smith said he responded, "Yes ma'am!"
Reflecting on their friendship, Smith had nothing but the highest of praise for O'Neal.
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He described the 2000 MVP as "different," joking about his willingness to "call you out" and mercilessly "clown you."
Despite this, Smith added that O'Neal had the biggest "heart that I've ever met.
"Theres no one that does more for folks who are disenfranchised, for folks who are unfortunate, for folks that just got challenges that average folks don't have," he explained.
O'Neal is well-known for his philanthropic work, having gone viral on numerous occasions for spontaneously helping those in need while shopping.
Inside the NBA's future?
Inside the NBA's run on TNT Sports is in major doubt due to the NBA's broadcasting deals.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT's broadcast deal with the NBA is up after next season and NBC looks set to take those rights in a $2.6bn deal.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it raises serious questions over the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which snaps up the NBA rights.
The 15-time All-Star may have retired in 2011, but he remains a prolific figure on the nation's screens.
Since stepping away from the court, O'Neal has been a regular face on TNT's much-loved Inside The NBA alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.
Unfortunately, with TNT's broadcasting rights package set to come to an end after the 2025 season, it currently looks unlikely that they will beat their competition to a new deal.
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As such, the future of Inside The NBA looks bleak.
Exactly what O'Neal plans to do should the show come to an end or be moved elsewhere remains to be seen.
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