"Inside The NBA" isn't dead yet, but the tributes from fans who fear that the show is on its last legs are starting to come out.
The NBA studio show of Turner Sports is in jeopardy of going away as several reports have surfaced that the Comcast (CMCSA) are frontrunners to take the rights to air the NBA away from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) starting the 2025-26 NBA season.
The "Inside The NBA" crew, which consists of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny "The Jet" Smith, are expected to be split up in some capacity should WBD be unable to keep the rights. Johnson is expected to stay with Turner, according to a report by Sports Business Journal, while Barkley has said publicly that he will exercise his option to become a free agent after next season.
Related: It's looking more and more like the iconic 'Inside The NBA' is going away
While the show has been around since 1989, this foursome was formalized in 2011 when O'Neal joined the fray, and together, they have built one of the most universally praised sports studio shows in history.
So with the NBC deal with the NBA slowly creeping towards finality, fans have started to push out some old clips on social media to remember what could be the final year and change of the crew.
More NBA media rights:
- Warner Bros. Discovery is in trouble after Comcast offers NBA a massive deal
- Charles Barkley could wind up on ESPN or Amazon in the near future
- NBA looks poised to come to streaming after reported framework deal with Amazon
Sports pundit Mike Golic Jr. tweeted out one of the iconic videos of the crew when O'Neal and Smith were arguing about the logic of filling up a gas tank — the type of conversation that is completely unrelated to sports but only this group has been able to execute with little complaints.
Inside The NBA is the best basketball show that has ever been made and that’s really all there is to it https://t.co/RR2CpUSMKS
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 15, 2024
Another user brought up 2018 clip of O'Neal conducting an ad read then immediately getting trashed by Barkley, who claimed the read was an easy task. TNT allowed Barkley to read the ad himself, only for him to hilariously mess up the words multiple times.
forever my favorite inside the nba clip pic.twitter.com/CuAuV5O9ik
— cullen (@Clatchley) May 14, 2024
Another user brought up a moment when Barkley admitted to receiving a bracelet from a person that he met a steam room.
My favorite Inside the NBA moment is when Charles Barkley shared that he got a bracelet from his friend in the steam room.
— Jimmy Sullivan (@JimmySullivanBC) May 14, 2024
"Towels were on, Chuck?" kills me every time pic.twitter.com/UF5QnI7eXb
These were just some of the many iconic clips of the show that has won over a dozen Emmys and become a staple of NBA television viewing.
Related: Shaq and Shannon Sharpe are suddenly feuding — here's what's going on
“dad, what was inside the nba?” pic.twitter.com/G8WLsAN0ED
— michael doleac (@3MWD__) May 14, 2024
It's still not confirmed if the show will be going away, or even if WBD is not keeping some sort of NBA rights. WBD is in the middle of its Upfront 2024 and CEO Luis Silberwasser spoke as if to say that Turner still has a shot of keeping the broadcasting rights of the NBA.
WBD's Luis Silberwasser: We look forward to another season of the NBA and coming to an agreement with the league "that makes sense for all of the parties."
— Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) May 15, 2024
OK ...
During TNT's broadcast of the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night, O'Neal and Barkley were noticeably absent and Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy reported that the two were in New York City preparing for the Upfront for WBD.
If you're wondering why Charles Barkley + Shaquille O'Neal are NOT on for 'Inside the NBA' pregame show, they are in NYC preparing to pitch ad buyers at TNT Sports' Upfront presentation Wednesday.
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) May 14, 2024
Smart move: TNT's 40-year NBA relationship hanging by thread. #saveinsidethenba
Related: Veteran fund manager picks favorite stocks for 2024
