Shaq Predicts Knicks Will Reach NBA Finals, Trades Barbs With Barkley and Smith
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During an on-air segment on May 11, 2026, Shaquille O’Neal emphatically declared that the New York Knicks “are going to the Finals,” sparking a spirited exchange with fellow analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.
The three former NBA stars traded jabs after O’Neal’s bold forecast, with Barkley and Smith pushing back on the prediction while O’Neal stood firm. The debate grew heated as each analyst defended his position, but O’Neal repeatedly doubled down on his belief that New York would emerge from the Eastern Conference.
No consensus was reached before the segment wrapped, leaving viewers with O’Neal’s confident proclamation and his co-hosts’ skeptical reactions.
Source: New York Post
