Shaquille O’Neal Trolls Charles Barkley During Dunkman Trophy Ceremony

Even in Charles Barkley’s absence, Shaquille O’Neal continues to hilariously take shots at him. Funnily, however, this interaction appears to be the foundation of their relationship.

O’Neal and Barkley are famously known for bickering over a variety of topics on “Inside The NBA.” Whether it involves Barkley’s recurring verbal faux pas or even his recent master’s degree from LSU, the four-time NBA champion doesn’t hesitate to roast his colleague.

In this context, Shaquille O’Neal’s dig at Charles Barkley may have been motivated by the trophy itself. Given that the Dunkman trophy looks similar to the NBA’s Larry O’Brien trophy, O’Neal jokingly took a shot at Barkley’s relative lack of silverware.

While Shaquille O’Neal’s remark garnered attention and laughs from the audience, it should not take away from Cameron Hazzard’s performance throughout the tournament.

Unlike the All-Star Weekend’s marquee Slam Dunk Contest, the Dunkman tournament took things a step further by structuring it as a multi-week event with a league format. With athletes from around the globe participating, the sheer scale of the event is quite spectacular.

The list of participants was particularly noteworthy, as three-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung was one of the favorites to win it all. But even though he’s an ordinary accounting intern, Cameron Hazzard eventually stole the show in the finals.

Hazzard faced off against China’s wildcard entry, Dengxing Cheng, in the final round. While the scoring criteria for dunks were extremely stringent, Hazzard posted a score of 9.91 with a 360° East Bay dunk before winning it all with a phenomenal 360° under-the-legs dunk.

Overall, the Dunkman World Championship was a sensation, and possibly another successful venture for Shaquille O’Neal’s brand. With the NBA legend taking his business in a new direction, fans will eagerly look forward to what else he has in store.