"Inside the NBA," a 35-season-long studio show on TNT, has come to an end, but its legacy will continue on ESPN. The show, known for its top-notch basketball analysis and unique personality-driven commentary, will be carried over to the new network under a November deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. The move will have two significant impacts: upgrading the product around ESPN's NBA broadcasts and giving a lifeline to "Inside the NBA," which was previously on track to become an all-too-unfortunate casualty of the latest NBA media rights shuffle. The show's hosts, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal, will continue in their roles on ESPN, with the same cast and production team producing the show out of Turner's Studio J in Atlanta. The move is expected to be largely untouched by ESPN management, similar to other high-profile acquisitions under ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, such as "The Pat McAfee Show" and Peyton Manning's "ManningCast." While ESPN is not known for its success in producing compelling NBA studio shows, the acquisition of "Inside the NBA" is a strategic move to upgrade the product around its NBA broadcasts and keep the show alive. The show's iconic status was even parodied on "Saturday Night Live" in 2022, demonstrating its widespread popularity and influence in NBA coverage. The deal between TNT Sports and ESPN is a win-win situation for both parties. TNT Sports will take over exclusive rights to a slate of Big 12 football and men’s college basketball games from ESPN, while ESPN will continue to broadcast "Inside the NBA" as is, with the same production values and personalities that have made it a staple of NBA coverage for decades.
