Billy Ray Bates wasn’t just another baller. He was “The Black Superman,” a PBA legend who lit up the court like few ever could. Although his stint in the NBA was rather brief, his overseas impact was nothing to scoff at! There’s a reason for his legend status on the PBA. After all, he averaged over 46 points per game! That set him apart from the rest of the players. He is a classic example of a case of “what could’ve been” story in NBA history. But who could’ve predicted that decades later, his name would resurface in the most awkward way possible?
That’s what makes the Inside the NBA moment so jarring. The TNT crew—Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson—often feels more like friends chatting at a bar than just sports analysts. Their charm lies in the banter, the off-script laughs, and the ridiculous tangents. Whether it’s Shaq roasting Barkley’s golf swing or Chuck ranting about San Francisco’s homeless problem, you never know where they’ll go next. But this time, their unscripted chaos might’ve gone a step too far.
It all started during a light segment about playoff bench scoring. Charles Barkley, in his usual casual tone, brought up Bates. “Billy Ray Bates, man. I remember him.” What followed was unexpected. “I wonder if he’s still alive,” Barkley asked out loud. Then there was a pin-drop silence as the crew sat agape at the question that was just asked. Kenny Smith tried to stop him quickly, saying some questions are better whispered. Even Ernie Johnson chimed in, hinting that Barkley should’ve checked before asking on air. But it was too late; the moment had already gone sideways.
The conversation got even more awkward when Shaquille O’Neal added, “Unfortunately, he passed away.” That was a mistake. Billy Ray Bates is still alive. Barkley defended himself, saying he didn’t mean harm. “I just asked a question,” he said. But the crew wasn’t having it. Kenny Smith told him, “You ever heard of ‘koof’? The word? You don’t have any.” Chuck ended up apologizing, “Oh, forgive me. Forgive me, y’all.” From talk of social skills to jokes about manners, the segment spiraled fast. What was meant to be a tribute turned into a trainwreck, and it all happened live.
This is a developing story…
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