An era is indeed coming to an end soon. Inside the NBA is heading towards a bittersweet conclusion at the end of the Conference Finals. The beloved crew of Shaq, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Ernie Johnson won’t be seen on TNT anymore. But until months ago, there was uncertainty that the band might never appear together. America didn’t accept it, and even the NBA couldn’t see the 21-time Emmy-winning show turn to ashes over a business deal.
So a rival jumped in to help. ESPN took over the rights to Inside the NBA, partnering with TNT for the same purpose. Until that point, Barkley was requesting TNT to sign the media rights deal, and their loyal audience was simply praying. ESPN answered them, allowing to keep the infamous group of four to stay together.
However, anxiety didn’t escape the building. The Inside the NBA crew is tightly knit, both on and off the screen. So when Ernie Johnson found out about the arrangements of the show, he assured the employees that TNT had made sure everybody would remain intact.
“It’s going to be different because it’s here and it’s showing somewhere else. But it’s here. And you all deserve it. We’ve been through a bunch of nights, and for a lot of us, no matter what you do, there’s been anxiety, and hey, what’s going on in this uncertainty, in this cloud. Let’s enjoy this, alright. They can’t get rid of us. Have a great night,” he said on the day the show found out they would remain alive.
The camaraderie on their show is unlike any other. The crew in front of the camera has unprecedented chemistry and understanding. But it extends even behind the camera. Notably, Shaquille O’Neal even gave their stage manager an expensive gift from Louis Vuitton. On the other hand, during their last show at the studio, Ernie Johnson called the team “the greatest family in TV history.”
So while the network does change, the spirit doesn’t change. Inside the NBA will remain just as humorous and captivating as before.
ESPN boosts Inside the NBA?
ESPN may have taken the rights to air Inside the NBA. However, it’s TNT who will be handling the daily operations. The network will produce the show independently from its studio in Atlanta. It will only air on ESPN. But there’s a major advantage for the show’s ardent fans with them signing a deal with ESPN.
For those who want it, it might bring a crossover between Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith. But that’s not the biggest perk. The crew will stay on for longer durations as opposed to ending their season after the Conference finals on TNT.
The NBA community will get a lot more of the cherished crew.
Their agreement with ESPN states Inside the NBA “will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN’s pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC games after Jan. 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events,”.
So expect a greater atmosphere on the show when they appear on the coveted stage of the NBA season. It’s still unclear whether they will do the show from the arena as they do for the Conference Finals. But nonetheless, the more they appear on television, the sweeter it’s going to be for their fans.
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