Since 1989, Inside the NBA has been the cornerstone for TNT. The halftime and postgame studio show is arguably the greatest sports TV show of all time. After nearly a decade, in 1998, Kenny Smith joined the show. In 2000, Charles Barkley became the show’s newest member, and in 2011, Shaquille O’Neal joined the complete the quartet.
The impact the show has had in its glorious run on TNT, from 1989-2025, is immeasurable. Inside the NBA is the perfect blend of entertainment and detailed analysis, thanks to the four icons. But the run is now over. Inside the NBA will no longer be on TNT.
The network lost a long battle for the NBA rights. Unfortunately, they couldn’t renew their contract with the NBA. Initially, it seemed like the show was going off-air. Fans were dejected; it felt like the end of an era. Then, surprisingly, ESPN came into the mix, and it was announced that Inside the NBA would move to ESPN.
Most people were happy with the announcement. As hard as it was for the Inside crew to bid farewell to TNT, they all seemed excited for the new chapter. However, 11-time NBA All-Star Barkley recently made a statement, talking about his doubts.
Charles Barkley’s statement on working for ESPN
The 62-year-old has worked all his life and has established quite an empire. But as he’s growing older, Sir Charles is not interested in handling a major workload. Earlier this month, during a conversation with Dan Patrick:
I said I’ll work for two more years, and that’s what I agreed to. I’m gonna have to trust them. If they start trying to work me too much between ESPN and TNT, I’m just going to walk on home.
Barkley said.
Chuck revealed that he still has seven years left on his 10-year, $210 million deal. But he has made it clear that he won’t work for more than two years. Although Chuck has his concerns regarding the work schedule, the analyst said he is excited to join forces at ESPN.
ESPN is the most famous sports brand ever. It’s going to be awesome working for them.
he said.
Barkley laughed at the irony that the show is called Inside the NBA, but the network that runs the show doesn’t even have the rights to the NBA. Chuck revealed that he is still technically under contract with TNT as well, and they’re also trying to figure something out that involves the legendary crew.
As of now, it’s tough to guess what direction TNT would go with their new show featuring Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq. But whatever they do, entertainment is guaranteed.
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Prateek is a seasoned content writer with over 2500 published articles and two+ years of experience. His passion for UFC was ignited during Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, and closely following McGregor’s journey inspired him to bring a sharp, fan-driven perspective to his UFC coverage, blending detailed analysis with compelling storytelling.
