During a crossover event covering the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals on Thursday, Charles Barkley set ground rules for Stephen A. Smith, instructing him not to bring the "loud-ass talking" from First Take to the Inside the NBA set. Barkley humorously warned Stephen A., "This gon' be the first a** whooping you take." The crossover event featured ESPN and TNT broadcasters, recalling a 2016 moment when Barkley jokingly explained why he wouldn't work at ESPN, citing excessive workload and a "puny check."