Skip to main content
Join Now

Charles Barkley, 'Inside the NBA' crew hilariously react to reported Ian Rapoport-Jordan Schultz altercation

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/27/25•

NickSchultz_7

Inside the NBA
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TNT)

Thursday, the talk of the NFL – and the sports world, for that matter – was the reported altercation between NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The two reportedly came to blows at a Starbucks while covering the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and the jokes came in throughout the day.

Even some NBA personalities got in on the fun. Charles Barkley and the Inside the NBA crew shared laughs about the situation to start Thursday’s show.

Ernie Johnson came on the air with Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny “The Jet” Smith to start the pregame show and asked how everyone was doing. Barkley responded saying he went for coffee, but pointed out how dangerous it can be – alluding to Wednesday’s situation in Indianapolis.

“I’m in a good mood, man,” Barkley said. “Well, because I was at Starbucks today. It’s dangerous in there, Ernie. There were fists flying everywhere. I don’t normally go to Starbucks because that’s where rich, white folks go.”

“Apparently, it’s where a lot of reporters go, too,” Johnson quickly responded as the crew reacted.

Reports from the situation indicated no punches ended up being thrown, and the exchange between Rapoport and Schultz was a verbal incident. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported Rapoport called security over after Schultz went up to him while talking to an agent.

Barkley declared he’d pick Rapoport to win between the two NFL insiders. O’Neal, though, took the other side and picked Schultz.

“You know what’s funny about that story?” O’Neal said. “I’ve been knowing Jordan for a long time. of course, his father’s Howard Schultz. He could’ve owned all the franchises, but he decided to go a different route. I’ve always respected Jordan for that. But yeah, Jordan. Hope you’ve got [punches].”

After Charles Barkley’s comments made their way onto social media, Schultz responded with a joke of his own. He issued a reminder about who called security and pulled out an old Barkley clip to show what his response would be if he found out.

Thursday marked the first day of workouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, and coverage ramped up. The Pat McAfee Show is in attendance since the Combine is in its hometown of Indianapolis and joked with Rapoport on air about the situation. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also got in on the fun, posting a picture of the Starbucks at the JW Marriott.

When NFL Network began its coverage of Thursday evening’s workouts, Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah continued to chide Rapoport about the situation. The jokes kept coming as the network came on the air.

“There is one other member of our broadcast team that we got to bring in and he is the Jake Paul of NFL Network. Lots of buzz. He is trending with no punches shown,” Eisen said.