The verbal altercation between NFL reporters Ian Rapoport and Jordan Schultz at the NFL scouting combine this week is (jokingly) tearing apart Inside the NBA.
On Thursday, analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith took a stab at dissecting the football drama du jour, which is believed to have begun when Rapoport somewhat disputed Schultz's report regarding a meet-up between Tom Brady and potential Las Vegas Raiders trade acquisition Matthew Stafford. Schultz later confronted Rapoport at a Starbucks in Indianapolis, and the two engaged in a brief but heated exchange that was ultimately reported to NFL security.
As such, Thursday's Inside the NBA kicked off with Barkley proclaiming he's in a "good mood, man," because he "was at Starbucks today. It's dangerous in there, Ernie. There's fists flying everywhere."
The panel then went on to crack a few more jokes about the whole thing before O'Neal noted that he has "always respected" how Schultz, son of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, opted to take the sports media route instead of inheriting the world's most recognizable coffee chain. He then looked at the camera and squared up, seemingly implying that he'd be willing to fight for the Fox reporter.
Well, Barkley couldn't have that. He went on to say that he's "got Ian in this one" before he and O'Neal set a date for a fight—May 19— when the two reporters (plus Chuck and Shaq) can settle it once and for all.
Watch that funny dialogue below:
'Inside the NBA' tackles the Jordan Schultz-Ian Rapoport Starbucks fight to begin the show. 🏀🏈🥊☕️🎙️😂 pic.twitter.com/7e0z7lRrAq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 28, 2025
Now, of course, neither Rapoport nor Schultz could watch this happen and say nothing.
"Charles always has my back. Appreciate you, my guy," Rapoport wrote on social media in response.
Charles always has my back. Appreciate you, my guy. https://t.co/EhPTOfmUqF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2025
"If only Charles knew who called security, he would've had this same reaction along with my guy Shaq," said Schultz, who linked a years-old clip of Barkley and Shaq belly laughing years ago over the LAPD getting called to the Los Angeles Lakers locker room in his reply.
If only Charles knew who called security, he would've had this same reaction along with my guy Shaq 😂😂 https://t.co/kHtKPsEkzN pic.twitter.com/FFweeaobGx
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 28, 2025
The media beef continues.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Shaq, Charles Barkley Jokingly Take Sides in NFL Reporter Brouhaha at Starbucks.
