Shaqtin' a Fool is a weekly segment from the television show Inside the NBA, the postgame show of NBA on ESPN (previously aired for NBA on TNT) following the conclusion of National Basketball Association (NBA) games airing on cable TV channel ESPN and broadcast network ABC. The title is a play on "actin' a fool." It first aired during the 2011–12 NBA season, when retired NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal voiced it upon joining the show and was created by Turner Sports producer Mike Goldfarb.
Format Shaqtin' highlights humorous and uncommon basketball plays that have occurred during NBA games in the past week. O'Neal is the host and presenter, while the other analysts in studio react and provide commentary. Most often, those have been fellow Inside regulars Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley, but other Inside hosts have also participated, including Chris Webber, Grant Hill, Steve Smith, Kevin Garnett and Matt Winer. Since 2018, the Shaqtin franchise has been led by Turner Sports producer Michael Kaplan.
The segment regularly features NBA players and also includes, but is not limited to, coaches, referees, fans, mascots, other arena employees, and sometimes the hosts themselves. Sometimes they also air clips from other international basketball leagues. On special occasions, the segment features plays which had occurred during the past, including several entire "retro" editions. Each episode tends to have four entries (five until 2018) from the past week, with each entry typically involving a single play (although there are some times where a collection of similar bad plays, such as travels and air ball free throws, are highlighted). Multiple plays may include the same player, and a single play may highlight more than one player. Clips are usually followed by a montage of exaggerated visual gags and added sound effects, usually with the players in focus being rotoscoped and composited into additional comic environments, and often reaction shots of the coaches. NBA finals plays are not included, due to series ended to conference finals.
There is a special award given to certain players, called the "Shaqtin Golden Ticket," which is lifetime immunity from being included in the segment. Since its debut in 2015, four players have been awarded with the award. Those include: current Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Larry Nance Jr. (2015 winner), current free agent small and power forward P. J. Tucker (2016 winner, although he was featured on an episode during the 2018–19 season), 2-time Shaqtin' MVP, 3-time NBA Champion, and current NBL center JaVale McGee (after his long feud with O'Neal escalated in early 2017, see more in "Shaq's feud with JaVale McGee" section), and current Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (2018 winner, although he did appear in an episode in the 2022–23 season).
At the conclusion of the NBA postseason, a Shaqtin' a Fool special airs on NBA TV. During the special, O'Neal is joined by Ro Parrish and Dennis Scott, and the top Shaqtin' a Fool plays of the season are shown. On the 2013 special, 34 plays were shown to honor O'Neal's jersey retirement of No. 34 during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. On the 2014 special, only 20 plays were shown. For the 2015 special, the number of plays increased to 30. Since the beginning of the 2013–14 NBA season, fans are able to tweet suggestions for Shaqtin' a Fool.
Shaqtin' a Fool Most Valuable Player
The Shaqtin' a Fool Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual award presented at the Shaqtin' a Fool special during the conclusion of the NBA Playoffs. In the 2011–12 and the 2012–13 season, fans voted online for their favorite play of the year, and whichever player whose play accumulated the most votes for that season was awarded with the Shaqtin' a Fool MVP. In the 2013–14 season, the MVP was decided through the most appearances made by one player in a single season. In the event of a tie, fans vote for a player, and the leading candidate receives the award. For the 2014–15 season, three nominees were named and fans voted online for the winner.
Season Player Position Team Notes2011–12JaVale McGeeCenterWashington WizardsTraded to the Denver Nuggets before the season ended2012–13JaVale McGee (2)CenterDenver NuggetsMcGee is the first of two players to win the award twice.2013–14Kendrick PerkinsCenterOklahoma City ThunderInitially tied with Nick Young, fans later voted for Perkins to break the tie2014–15Otto PorterSmall ForwardWashington WizardsWon the fan vote against Brandon Knight and Dion Waiters2015–16James HardenShooting GuardHouston RocketsHarden was the first All-Star to win the award.2016–17Russell WestbrookPoint GuardOklahoma City ThunderWestbrook is the first player to win NBA MVP and Shaqtin MVP in the same season.2017–18Joel EmbiidCenterPhiladelphia 76ersEmbiid gained 58% of the fan vote against LeBron James, and it was claimed that this was the closest race to date.2018–19Lance StephensonShooting GuardLos Angeles LakersFirst Shaqtin’ MVP under the new format, where fans vote on Twitter hours before the NBA doubleheader on TNT, then the nightly winner would be announced on Inside the NBA later that night.2019–20No MVP namedN/AN/A2019-20 season was abruptly suspended from March to July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21Russell Westbrook (2)Point GuardWashington Wizards2021–22Russell Westbrook (3)Point GuardLos Angeles Lakers2022–23Andre DrummondCenterChicago Bulls2023–24Jordan PooleShooting Guard Washington Wizards2024–25LeBron JamesSmall ForwardLos Angeles Lakers
Special editions Other from the season-ending special, occasionally there are other special editions of Shaqtin' a Fool.
All-star edition Starting with the conclusion of the 2012 All-Star Game, an "All-Star Weekend" edition of Shaqtin' a Fool airs after NBA All-Star Weekend. It highlights bloopers that had occurred in the All Star Weekend events, such as the Slam Dunk Contest, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and the NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
Inside the NBA edition The April 17th, 2013 edition of Shaqtin''' was devoted to Inside, showing four moments featuring Inside cast members (including two from Charles Barkley), and one from a crew member dressed as Chris Bosh. For example, it included Johnson in a comic dunk contest as "'Elevator' Ernie Johnson".
Shaqtin' a Fool midseason award special 2014 On February 27, 2014, a midseason special named the "Shaqtin's" (parodying the Academy Awards) aired on NBA TV featuring O'Neal, Scott and Greenberg.james harden not mvp
Award Player Position Team Play DescriptionWorst LayupKendrick PerkinsCenterOklahoma City ThunderAn up and under layup/dunk attempt fails to hit the rim.Worst PassEnes KanterCenterUtah JazzA random pass out of bounds against the Oklahoma City Thunder.Worst ShotEnes KanterCenterUtah JazzTwo botched double-clutch jumpers.Worst DunkDerrick WilliamsForwardSacramento KingsA missed self alley-oop after getting a steal against the Chicago Bulls. Notable for occurring after Williams has Tweeted in response to Corey Brewer's own missed dunk, which occurred earlier in the week.Worst Moment By An All-StarTony ParkerGuardSan Antonio SpursA technical free throw shot well short of the basket. This shot attempt was aborted by the officials, possibly while Parker was in mid-shot.Worst TurnoverMarcin GortatCenterWashington WizardsA botched Dream Shake against Tim Duncan.Worst MomentJaVale McGeeCenterDenver NuggetsPiggy-backing Steven Adams while running back on defense during a fast break. This would be McGee's only appearance on Shaqtin' a Fool all season, as he was sidelined with a broken left leg.Lifetime Achievement AwardJaVale McGeeCenter
2015 For 2015, O'Neal, Scott and Greenberg were joined by Funkmaster Flex, who also presented Flexin' A Fool, reserved for players under 6 feet. Ashanti also made an appearance to put her spin on the intro. Award Player Position Team Play DescriptionWorst Fast BreakBrandon KnightGuardMilwaukee BucksBlowing an easy breakaway game-winning layup in overtime against the Brooklyn Nets.Worst PassBrandon KnightGuardMilwaukee BucksA badly botched jump pass against the Indiana Pacers.Worst ShotBrandon JenningsGuardDetroit PistonsPassing up a wide open layup and then missing a fadeaway jumper.Worst DunkCorey BrewerGuard/ForwardMinnesota TimberwolvesAn (uncalled) six-step travel on a breakaway dunk.Worst Play By An All-StarJames HardenGuardHouston RocketsMatador defense in transition against the New York Knicks.Worst MomentLance StephensonGuardCharlotte HornetsSlapping himself and flopping after running into a screen.Lifetime Achievement AwardBrandon KnightGuard
2016 On February 17, 2016, Greenberg hosted the 2016 edition with O'Neal and Scott.
Award Player Position Team Play DescriptionWorst ShotMarcelo HuertasGuardLos Angeles LakersShoots a behind the head three-pointer as the shot clock expired after getting his first shot blocked.Worst Play By An All-StarJames HardenGuardHouston RocketsTwo plays in the winning nomination: matador defense in transition against the New York Knicks and failure to defensively rebound a missed layup by the Detroit Pistons, which surrendered a tip-in. A wildly errant pass by James Harden against the Utah Jazz was featured in another nomination.Worst Fast BreakNerlens NoelForward/centerPhiladelphia 76ersMishandling his dribble on a fast break after stealing the ball from the Cleveland Cavaliers.Worst PassAnderson VarejãoForward/centerCleveland CavaliersA pass that hits LeBron James in the face while receiving another pass during warm-ups.Worst Uncalled TravelDirk NowitzkiForwardDallas MavericksUncalled backward hopping while possessing the ball and posting up against the Houston Rockets.Worst MomentBismack BiyomboCenterToronto RaptorsDribbles the ball after stopping his dribble, then lets the ball go loose upon realizing his mistake.Lifetime Achievement AwardKendrick PerkinsCenter
2017 On February 22, 2017, Ro Parrish hosted the 2017 edition with O'Neal and Scott. In this edition, all winners except Westbrook made an on-camera "acceptance speech" (in Smith's case, Jason Terry, who was also involved in the play, spoke for him). That led to additional plays featured; another windmill dunk by Ross, this time successful (after his asking for it) and two flops O'Neal made during his career (after "Best Actor" winner Marcus Smart accepted the award but implied that O'Neal flopped some times himself as a player).
Award Player Position Team Play DescriptionWorst ShotKemba WalkerGuardCharlotte HornetsPrematurely celebrating a 3-pointer against the Miami Heat before the shot missed.Worst Play By An All-StarRussell WestbrookGuardOklahoma City ThunderA blatant travel following an inbound against the Golden State Warriors.Worst Fast BreakTerrence RossGuard/ForwardToronto RaptorsA missed breakaway windmill dunk following a steal against the Milwaukee Bucks.Worst PassWesley JohnsonGuard/ForwardLos Angeles ClippersTwo consecutive botched inbounds passes against the San Antonio Spurs resulting in easy dunks.Best Actor (Worst Flop)Marcus SmartGuardBoston CelticsA trio of flops against the Pistons, Rockets and Pelicans.Worst Uncalled TravelBojan BogdanovićGuard/ForwardBrooklyn NetsA 10-step travel combined with a double dribble against the Los Angeles Clippers.Worst MomentJ. R. SmithGuardCleveland CavaliersHugging opposing player Jason Terry during play, leading to an easy dunk for Tony Snell of the Milwaukee Bucks.Lifetime Achievement AwardDwight HowardCenter
In addition, O'Neal's mispronouncing of players' names was featured before the Worst Fast Break was presented.
2018