TNT's iconic talk show, Inside the NBA , will reportedly be headed to ESPN and ABC following the end of this season after the original network lost the rights to the NBA over the summer. The update comes after fans have worried for months that this will be the final season with Charles Barkley , Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson all together to cover the league. Both Alex Sherman of CNBC and Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal have confirmed the news as of Saturday night.
"Can confirm WBD has reached a settlement with the NBA," Sherman wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Inside the NBA will continue and be licensed to ESPN. All the talent will remain TNT Sports employees and can be used in other future shows or projects for warner bros Disocvery.
[sic]" Read More: TNT Is Reportedly In Talks With The NBA To Save "Inside The NBA" NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 26: (L-R) Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles. Barkley speak onstage during the 2017 NBA Awards. Live on TNT on June 26, 2017 in New York, New York.
27111_002 (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TNT) Charles Barkley has been particularly vocal about his disappointment regarding TNT's loss of the rights to broadcast the NBA. "Clearly, the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I'm not sure TNT ever had a chance.
TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn't.