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Jussie Smollett references pops up on ‘Inside the NBA’ halftime show — and all night long

By Matt Collins Article may include affiliate links

As any regular viewer of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” knows, the show’s team of commentators has a tradition of posting predictions on small, self-stick notes that area affixed to the wall of a little used part of the set — and Charles Barkley managed to use that running joke to bring up the Jussie Smollett case.

  • During the halftime show during the Houston Rockets and L.A. Lakers game, Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson began referencing the predictions.
  • Johnson walked away from the anchor desk over to the wall to check on what was written down.
  • Meanwhile, when asked about which prediction had “no chance of happening,” Barkley suddenly veered away from basketball into the hottest pop culture story right now — the Jussie Smollett case.
  • His reply? “Two black guys beating a black guy up.”

  • The references continued throughout the night, with someone preparing a graphic of a faux check made out to “Muggers” for “mugging supplies” as well as the reference to Subway in Smollett’s story.

  • Another reference came with an image of Smollett with handwriting and a viewer tweet with animated GIF of John Oliver.

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