Set to be quasi-colleagues at ESPN next season, Shaquille O’Neal had recently served notice to Smith and others at the network that the “Inside the NBA” crew was “taking over.”

O’Neal invaded ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” set on Thursday minutes before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder. Midway through the show, O’Neal made his way onto the set and was met with tons of laughter from hosts Stephen A. Smith, Malika Andrews, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins.

Shaquille O'Neal made an unexpected early debut on ESPN, just days after TNT's final NBA game broadcast. After over a decade with TNT Sports as part of the 'Inside the NBA' crew alongside Charles Barkley,