It was a night like any other in Studio J. The playoffs were heating up, the fans were buzzing, and the Inside the NBA crew was in rare form. Ernie Johnson was prepping his cue cards, Kenny âThe Jetâ Smith was practicing his sprint to the big board, Charles Barkley was already talking trash about the Suns, and Shaquille OâNealâwell, Shaq was up to something.
The show was famous for its blend of sharp basketball analysis and hilarious hijinks, but nothing could have prepared the crew or the audience for what would soon become the most talked-about moment of the season.
The Build-Up

That night, Shaqtinâ A Fool, the showâs signature blooper segment, was set to air its âBest of the Seasonâ countdown. The studio was electric. Clips of missed dunks, wild passes, and defensive lapses had everyone in stitches. The crew took turns roasting the playersâand each other.
But as the countdown reached number one, Ernie leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eye. âAnd now, the number one Shaqtinâ moment of the year,â he announced, pausing for dramatic effect, âis actually a number two.â
The studio erupted in laughter before the clip even rolled. Shaqâs face turned a shade of red that matched the TNT logo.
The Incident
It had happened a few weeks earlier, during a commercial break. The show was running long, and Shaq had downed one too many energy drinks. As the cameras cut away, he felt a rumble in his stomachâa warning sign heâd ignored too many times before.
At first, he tried to play it cool. He adjusted in his chair, cracked a few jokes, and even joined in on a heated debate with Charles about who was the greatest rebounder of all time. But the rumble grew louder, and soon, beads of sweat formed on his brow.
Kenny noticed first. âYo, big fella, you alright?â he whispered.
Shaq nodded, but his eyes told a different story. He was in trouble.
As the break ended and the red light on the camera blinked, Shaq realized he had mere seconds to avoid disaster. With a burst of speed that belied his size, he leapt from his chair and sprinted off the set, nearly knocking over a cameraman in the process.
The Aftermath
The crew was left stunned. Charles burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. Ernie tried to keep a straight face, but even he couldnât resist the absurdity. Kenny, ever the instigator, chased after Shaq with a microphone, narrating the scene like a play-by-play announcer.
Backstage, Shaq frantically searched for the nearest bathroom. He flagged down a production assistantâCraigâwho pointed him in the right direction. But the journey felt endless. Every step was a battle against time and gravity.
Finally, he made it. As the door closed behind him, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the studio. Shaq had survived, but the legend was just beginning.
The Revelation
Word spread quickly. By the next segment, Shaq was back on set, a sheepish grin on his face. He tried to brush it off, but Charles wouldnât let him off the hook.
âYou alright, big man? Need a new pair of drawers?â Charles teased, sending the studio into hysterics.
Shaq, never one to back down, owned the moment. âHey, when itâs running down your leg, you gotta call Craig. Diarrhea, man. Diarrhea,â he declared, mimicking his frantic plea for help.
The phrase became an instant classic. âCall Craigâ and âdiarrheaâ trended on Twitter. Fans flooded the showâs social media with memes, gifs, and jokes. Shaqâs bathroom emergency had become the stuff of legend.
Shaqtinâ Immortality
When the time came to assemble the âBest of the Seasonâ episode, there was no debate. Shaqâs bathroom dash was the unanimous choice for number one. The editors replayed the moment in slow motion, set it to dramatic music, and even added cartoon sound effects for good measure.
As the clip aired, the crew lost it. Charles was doubled over, tears streaming down his face. Kenny was gasping for air between laughs. Ernie, ever the professional, tried to regain control, but even he had to admitâit was the funniest thing heâd ever seen on set.
Shaq, for his part, embraced his new status as the king of bathroom emergencies. He even started selling âCall Craigâ t-shirts, with proceeds going to charity.
The Fansâ Perspective
For fans, the moment was a reminder of why they loved Inside the NBA. It wasnât just about basketball. It was about friendship, humility, and the willingness to laugh at yourselfâeven when millions were watching.
Parents joked about it with their kids. College students recreated Shaqâs dash in dorm hallways. Social media was flooded with parodies and tributes. The phrase âwhen itâs running down your leg, call Craigâ became a cultural touchstone, shorthand for lifeâs most urgent emergencies.
The Crew Reflects
In the weeks that followed, the crew couldnât resist bringing up the incident. Every time Shaq tried to offer serious analysis, Charles would interrupt with a sly, âYou sure you donât need a bathroom break, big fella?â
Even Ernie got in on the act, slipping ânumber twoâ references into his intros. Kenny coined a new segment: âShaqâs Bathroom Breaks,â where fans submitted their own embarrassing stories for a chance to win show merchandise.
Through it all, Shaq remained a good sport. âHey, everybodyâs got a story,â he said. âMine just happened to be on live TV.â
The Legacy
Years from now, when fans look back on the golden age of Inside the NBA, theyâll remember the big games, the heated debates, and the unforgettable moments of friendship. But above all, theyâll remember the night Shaq ran for his lifeâand made everyone laugh in the process.
Because in the end, it wasnât just about basketball. It was about being human, sharing a laugh, and knowing that even the biggest legends have to answer natureâs call.
And as Shaq himself would say, âWhen itâs running down your leg, you call Craig. Diarrhea, man. Diarrhea.â