Inside the NBA Funniest Moments of the 2023-24 Season
The 2023–24 NBA season wasn’t just about buzzer-beaters and MVP chases—it also delivered endless laughs on Inside the NBA. Here are the ten moments that had fans—and the crew—rolling on the studio floor.
1. Shaq’s Viral Snapchat Filter Mishap
During a live segment on All-Star Weekend, Shaq activated a goofy Snapchat filter… on Ernie! Ernie’s face morphed into a rubber chicken, and Shaq couldn’t stop cackling as “Chicken Ernie” tried—and failed—to stay serious.
2. Kenny’s Ice-Cold “Airball” Block
Kenny Smith attempted to demonstrate a game-breaking defensive stance… only to trip over the studio rug and flop onto the couch. Chuck barked, “That’s an air-ball on national TV!”—and even Ernie struggled to keep a straight face.
3. Chuck’s “Bank” Catchphrase Gone Too Far
In a special “Bank Shot” highlight reel, Chuck barked “Bank!” so loudly that the studio walls rattled. Moments later, one of the cameras briefly lost signal—prompting Shaq to quip, “Even the camera’s saying ‘bank it!’”
4. Ernie’s On-Air Teleprompter Fail
Ernie Johnson misread a teleprompter slip and introduced the “Western Conference Finals” as the “Western Conference Finals… of the 1820s.” After a beat of stunned silence, Shaq yelled, “Ernie, you time-traveling again?”
5. Shaq vs. Chuck: The Mascot Showdown
For Fan Appreciation Night, the crew tried their hand at dunk contests—dressed as their team mascots. Shaq (as “Boomer the Cavalier”) and Chuck (as “Sir CC the Pacer”) got tangled mid-air, tumbled to the floor, and declared a tie.
6. Kenny’s “Sneaker Assist”
Mid-segment, Kenny’s shoe broke—and he shoved the sole at Shaq, joking, “Here—make my point for me.” Shaq aired it live, turned to camera, and dribbled the sole like a basketball: “Kenny, you built this?”
7. Celebrity Cameo: Drake’s Surprise “Drizzy Dunk”
When Drake popped in for a cameo, he insisted on reenacting the “Drizzy Dunk” from the Raptors’ title run. He soared, missed horribly and tumbled—triggering non-stop laughter from the desk. Chuck muttered, “I’d still vote for him MVP.”
8. The “Wrong Trophy” Prank
After the Finals, the crew planned to unveil the Larry O’Brien Trophy—except someone sneakily swapped it for a gold-plated garden gnome. Watching Chuck gingerly polish a gnome before realizing he’d been punked was TV gold.
9. Shaq’s “Silent Laugh” Challenge
Ernie challenged Shaq to laugh silently for an entire segment—no snorts or shouts. Naturally, Shaq failed within ten seconds, unleashing a volcanic belly laugh that had the entire on-set audience in stitches.
10. Chuck’s Mid-Show Voting Rant
During All-Star voting coverage, Chuck launched into a mock-political speech: “If you don’t fill out my ballot, you’re fired!” He stamped his foot, slapped the desk, and ended with a dramatic “Vote Chuck!” poster reveal—complete chaos.
Why These Moments Matter
Chemistry on Display: The spontaneous humor shows why this quartet has reigned supreme for decades.
Humanizing the Game: Between X’s and O’s, these bloopers remind us that hoops is meant to be fun.
Cultural Impact: Clips of these antics went viral, bringing new viewers to both the show and the NBA.
Whether you’re here for the deep analysis or the unscripted laughs, Inside the NBA proved again that it’s the gold standard—not just for basketball talk, but for pure, unfiltered entertainment.
