The Inside the NBA desk produced another all-timer on Wednesday night, Nov. 4. It started with a simple fan question and ended with Charles Barkley pretending to dial the head of the FBI while Shaquille O'Neal threatened him with a calendar date.

Coming back from a break the show rolled a clip from The Steam Room, the podcast Barkley hosts with Ernie Johnson. A listener wanted to know who would win a scrap between Shaq and Thunder big man Steven Adams. Barkley did not hesitate. He said Shaq could not fight a lick and picked Adams in a heartbeat.

His reasoning was pure Chuck. Adams grew up as one of 17 kids, Barkley explained. In a house that crowded there are never enough toys or snacks to go around. Somebody is going to learn how to throw hands. Ernie warned him that Shaq would not let that slide.

The date is set

Ernie was right. When the cameras came back Shaq was holding up a sheet of paper with May 19 scribbled on it. He told his longtime sparring partner that was the day he planned to knock him out. Then he crowned himself the undisputed champion of big dumb battles and promised to deal with Adams after he was done with Barkley.

Barkley calmly pulled out his phone. Shaq asked if he was calling the cops. Barkley said no, he was calling Kash Patel. A beat later he set the phone down and announced that the FBI director was not available right now. The whole desk cracked up.

The line was a jab at Shaq's September visit with Patel, when the Hall of Famer was made an honorary FBI special agent. Barkley has been teasing him about that badge ever since and he clearly saved this one for the right moment.

Savoring every minute

Moments like this are why fans are holding on tight this season. Ernie has said this will be his last year on the Inside desk after nearly four decades and Barkley has hinted more than once that he could follow him out the door.

For now the crew is still bickering like brothers and that is exactly what people tune in for. Whether a May 19 showdown ever happens is anyone's guess. Barkley's phone will be ready either way.