Media MonsterNBAVideo

Inside The NBA’s First Victim Of The Season: Jason Whitlock

Jason Whitlock, noted brotein consumer and provocateur extraordinaire, took a shot at Shaq during last night’s opening episode of TNT’s Inside The NBA.

Right now, Chuck would win Shirt-Off II… Shaq is opening the season out of shape, as usual. #nbaontnt

— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) October 31, 2012

Shaq, who obviously takes his figure quite seriously, was none too happy about the social media slight. So he fired back. From Fox Sports:

“‘O’Neal, trading jokes with broadcast members Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson on the postgame show following the Lakers’ loss to Dallas, called out Whitlock and issued the challenge to meet him in the ring.

“Jason Whitlock, I tell you what: You can come down here and box me any time you want,” he said.

‘Jason Whitlock, I’ll use one hand, you use two, I’ll get on my knees! Anytime, anyplace. You don’t know who you’re talking to!’ O’Neal added.”

And no, that wasn’t the end of it. From later in the segment:

Note Inside The NBA‘s way of making fun of Whitlock: show a picture of the husky scribe, then point and laugh. Works like a charm.

Whitlock later tried to play it off with the “I’m not fat anymore!” card.

What did Shaq say? He didn’t hear about P90Whitlock? ….

— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) October 31, 2012

We’ll stay out of the fray on this one until some evidence is presented. Show us your bod, Whitlock.

[SB Nation, via @cjzero]

Follow @dylantmurphy