WATCH: Shaq leads NBA All-Star Crowd in Happy Birthday song for Charles Barkley while getting hilarious birthday cake, dinner
With Charles Barkley set to turn 60 on Monday, his Inside the NBA co-host Shaquille O’Neal helped him celebrate the birthday a day early with one of his favorite foods. Barkley was presented with a plate of doughnuts as well as a birthday cake with doughnuts designed in the frosting during the broadcast of Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game.
Not only that, but Shaq enthusiastically led the crowd in Salt Lake City in the singing of “Happy Birthday” to Barkley. The camera panned over the crowd to show former NBA stars Bill Walton and Joakim Noah singing along. You can view the moment below.
Barkley’s love of doughnuts is well-documented. This isn’t the first time he has received them as a birthday gift, as the Inside the NBA crew presented him with 53 dozen doughnuts seven years ago on his 53rd birthday. They also blindfolded him for a doughnut taste test at one point.
In addition to the plate of doughnuts and cake, Barkley also appeared to be brought a hot dog at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. It’s safe to say he won’t have to worry about hunger as he takes in the game.
An NBA Hall of Famer, Barkley joined Inside the NBA in 2000 following his retirement from the league. O’Neal later joined ahead of the 2011-12 season and the pair have entertained audience’s since then with their back-and-forth banter. The birthday celebration for Charles Barkley isn’t the first time food has been involved in their antics, as Shaq bet Barkley he could eat the world’s largest chip five years ago.
Barkley signed a 10-year contract extension with TNT this past year, so fans can expect plenty more hilarious moments between him and Shaq in the future.
“We’re all a big family — Ernie, Kenny and Shaquille are brothers to me — and I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for them and all the amazing people who work on our show,” Barkley said. “I’m not gonna lie, though, this is a life-altering deal … and I’m blessed to be able to do live television for a living.”