Charles Barkley Can’t Stop Laughing… Nikola Jokić Is Doing The UNTHINKABLE!
It was a typical Thursday night on “Inside the NBA.” The studio was buzzing with energy as Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley prepared for another night of basketball analysis, jokes, and friendly banter. But tonight, something extraordinary was unfolding on the court—and it had Charles Barkley in stitches.
The Denver Nuggets were facing the Los Angeles Lakers in a high-stakes regular season game. Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets’ superstar center, was already known for his unorthodox style, jaw-dropping passes, and calm demeanor. But tonight, he was on a different level.
Midway through the third quarter, Jokić grabbed a defensive rebound and, instead of passing to a guard, dribbled the length of the court himself. With defenders closing in, he faked a behind-the-back pass, spun around, and threw a no-look alley-oop to Aaron Gordon—who slammed it home. The crowd erupted, and the announcers could barely contain their excitement.
Back in the studio, Charles Barkley watched the replay, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Man, that boy Jokić is just playing a different game!” he exclaimed, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Shaq joined in, shaking his head in amazement, while Kenny tried to break down the play but kept getting interrupted by Charles’s fits of giggles.
But Jokić wasn’t done. In the fourth quarter, with the game tied, he pulled off the unthinkable. After a pick-and-roll with Jamal Murray, Jokić found himself double-teamed at the top of the key. With nowhere to go, he faked a shot, bounced the ball between his legs, and then lobbed it over Anthony Davis to Michael Porter Jr., who hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired.
Charles was now laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. “I’ve never seen anything like this! Jokić is out here playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers!” he said, clutching his stomach.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Nuggets had won, and Jokić finished with a triple-double: 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. The studio crew tried to analyze his performance, but Charles kept cracking up, replaying the highlights and marveling at Jokić’s creativity.
Later, during the post-game interview, Jokić was asked about his wild passes and daring plays. He smiled shyly and said, “I just try to have fun and make my teammates better. Sometimes, you have to do the unexpected.”
Back at the studio, Charles wiped his eyes and looked into the camera. “Nikola Jokić is doing things we’ve never seen before. And if you don’t enjoy watching him, you don’t love basketball!”
That night, the basketball world was reminded that greatness can come in the most unexpected forms—and that sometimes, the best thing you can do is sit back, laugh, and appreciate the magic.
