The playful feud between Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley has recently taken a new turn, this time focusing on Shaquille's inclusion in South Africa's GQ magazine's "Top 10 Sexiest Bald Men."

Barkley's outspoken rejection

Barkley and Kenny Smith initially congratulated Shaq for making the list, but then couldn't resist throwing cold water on the situation. Barkley went against the grain and even claimed that he should have been on the list of "Sexiest Men in America, not South America."

Shaq's retaliation backfired:

In retaliation, Shaq invited comedian Gary Owen to mock Barkley with some "ugly jokes." However, Irving's quip, "No, but you're ugly, so I agree with him." It left Shaq speechless and ultimately amused.

The South African factor:

Barkley and Smith's scepticism stems from the list's source, GQ South Africa. They jokingly accused Shaq of bribery, stressing that they don't believe Shaq's natural charisma made the cut.

Shaq embraces the "Sexy 9."

Undaunted by the ridicule, Shaq posted a clip of the exchange on TikTok, proudly calling "Sexy 9" his new nickname.

Shaq's aesthetic standards:

Shaq revealed that he likes to comment on his appearance as a scoop. He specifically asked Barkley not to praise his charisma and hinted that Dwight Howard might be a more appropriate target.

Shaq's fear of "OTBB":

This isn't the first time Shaq has joked about Barkley's appearance. He often jokes about avoiding being "OTBB" (Over-the-Belt-Barkley), a self-invented term meaning don't look like Barkley.

Endless banter

Shaq's playful banning of Barkley's compliments adds another layer to their long-standing comedic rivalry. Despite the seemingly harsh words, their light-hearted banter still entertains fans while showcasing their close friendship.

In a nutshell:

Shaq and Chuck's show continues to bring laughter and light-hearted rivalry to audiences, proving that even best friends can find humour in each other's (perceived) flaws.