Shaquille O’Neal tried. He really did.
But sadly, the Big Aristotle didn’t live up to his nickname … at least at first.
Giannis Antetokounmpo won the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year award and joined Inside the NBA to speak with the crew, so Shaq tried congratulating the Milwaukee Bucks superstar by speaking the center’s native Greek to him.
As you’ll see, it didn’t go so well. Antetokounmpo looked extremely confused for a second — and man, I hope that look becomes a meme during the NBA playoffs! — before informing O’Neal he sort of understood him. The whole sequence was so, so good:
.@SHAQ might have Giannis’ last name down, but his Greek still needs some work 😅🤣 pic.twitter.com/MHXIuKtQwC
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 25, 2020
But this is a story of redemption, because Charles Barkley challenged O’Neal to pronounce the Greek Freak’s last name correctly. If he did, Barkley would donate $10,000 to Antetokounmpo’s charity:
With a donation from Chuck on the line, @SHAQ finally got Giannis' last name right 😂 pic.twitter.com/E47hxpQIQR
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 25, 2020
Nailed it.
