Look: Charles Barkley Can’t Help Himself, Takes Shot at Kendrick Perkins, ESPN

The TNT basketball analyst had another well-timed joke on the air on Thursday.

ESPN basketball analyst Kendrick Perkins got himself into hot water last week when he suggested that NBA MVP voters have a racial bias that plays into their voting of Nuggets star Nikola Jokić, who is the frontrunner to take home his third straight league MVP.

Even more attention was put on Perkins earlier this week, after fellow ESPN basketball analyst JJ Redick roasted him on First Take for his take on the media members who vote for Jokić.

TNT’s Charles Barkley, who is no stranger to cracking jokes at the expense of others, got into the action as he threw shade at the controversy surrounding the network’s broadcast competitor.

Shaquille O’Neal said on TNT’s Inside the NBA on Thursday night that Giannis Antetokounmpo is his MVP. Barkley, without missing a beat, replied with, “You’re only voting for him because he’s Black.”

The studio crew of Shaq, Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Jamal Crawford all started cracking up in an absolutely priceless moment.

Shaq: "Giannis is my MVP"
Chuck: "You're only voting for him because he's black" pic.twitter.com/tWdDKXm1kW

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) March 10, 2023

Leave it to Barkley to get the entire set laughing on the weeknight show. It certainly isn’t the first time, and definitely won’t be the last.