INSIDE THE NBA

ESPN to Exclusively Feature Iconic ‘Inside the NBA’ Show Starting in 2025

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Is It the Braids?! Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Soundtracks 'Inside the NBA'

Is It the Braids?! Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Soundtracks 'Inside the NBA'

ESPN, in collaboration with TNT Sports and the NBA, announced a groundbreaking partnership today to bring the legendary Inside the NBA studio show to ESPN’s platforms starting with the 2025-26 season. This marks the first year of ESPN and the NBA’s 11-year rights extension, signed in July.

Produced independently by TNT Sports from its Atlanta-based studios, Inside the NBA will feature on ESPN and ABC during high-profile events, including pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, Christmas Day games, and more.

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, calling Inside the NBA “one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports” and expressing excitement about integrating its team’s unique chemistry into ESPN’s NBA coverage.

Luis Silberwasser, CEO and Chairman of TNT Sports, emphasized the pride in continuing the show’s tradition while enhancing its reach through ESPN and ABC, ensuring fans enjoy its renowned mix of insight and entertainment.

In addition to this partnership, TNT Sports will air a new exclusive lineup of Big 12 football and basketball games starting in 2025, expanding its sports coverage. Meanwhile, ESPN will continue producing NBA Countdown and NBA Today, hosted by Malika Andrews with a team of prominent analysts, including Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, and Shams Charania.

Debuting in 1989, Inside the NBA has earned 21 Sports Emmy Awards and received the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award in 2020. The partnership promises to enhance NBA coverage and elevate fan engagement across platforms.

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“Inside The NBA” Is Headed To A New Network Amid TNT Licensing Drama

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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”

Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, & Charles Barkley Speak During The NBA Awards

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 want to piss them off,” he said in a statement from earlier this year, as caught by Bleacher Report. “It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans.”

“Inside The NBA” Will Continue On A New Network

Fans were also very vocally disappointed by the originally presumed loss of Inside The NBA. Now, however, they’re ecstatic. “This is FREAKING MAJOR … but I’m waiting to read the fine print,” one user on X wrote in response to the new report. Another added: “INSIDE THE NBA IS STAYING LETS GOOO.” Check out Alex Sherman’s report about Inside The NBA below.

Read More: Charles Barkley Issues Strong Statement On TNT Losing NBA Broadcasting Rights

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Charles Barkley Issues Strong Statement On TNT Losing NBA Broadcasting Rights

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The NBA recently announced plans to sign a new TV rights contract with Amazon as part of their media rights negotiations. This means that TNT will be the network losing their rights to broadcast games, which they’ve held since 1989. Charles Barkley, co-star of the award-winning Inside The NBA, shared a statement regarding the NBA’s media rights negotiations with TNT. He made his disappointment in how things went very clear.

“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 want to piss them off,” said Barkley in his statement, shared by Bleacher Report. “It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans,” he added. Barkley has often stressed that the worst aspect of Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT’s parent company) losing its NBA rights is that it immediately puts many people out of work. He, like many fans, believes it’s unfair for people to suffer because of two multi-billion dollar businesses fighting each other.

Charles Barkley Statement On TNT Losing NBA Rights

Earlier Friday, TNT announced that they planned to take legal action against the NBA. They referred to the NBA’s rejection of their offer “unjustified,” adding that they believe keeping NBA coverage on TNT is in the best interest of fans. Charles Barkley told The Athletic that he hoped TNT decided not to pursue a lawsuit. “If you have to sue somebody to stay in a relationship, do you think that is a healthy relationship?” Barkley also previously announced that he intended to retire from television at the end of the 2024-25 season. He has been on the air since 2000, joining TNT after retiring from a Hall of Fame basketball career. However, he sounded less committed to those original comments when his money came into question.

Barkley, who is in the third year of a 10-year contract worth $210 million, could become a free agent if Warner Bros. Discovery fails to honor the full terms of his deal. “TNT Sports has to come to me ASAP and they have to guarantee my whole thing or they can offer me a pay cut, which there is no chance of that happening and I’ll be [a] free agent,” Barkley told The Athletic. “My thing was, ‘Wait, y’all f*cked up, I didn’t f*ck up, why do I have to take a pay cut?’” If TNT loses rights to the NBA, Inside the NBA will cease to exist in its current form. It would be a bleak ending to one of the most beloved sports shows of all time.

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TNT Is Reportedly In Talks With The NBA To Save “Inside The NBA”

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The NBA is close to signing a new media rights agreement. In this agreement, ESPN, NBC, and Amazon may contribute $76 billion to the league’s books over the following few years. Warner Bros. Discovery, which has partnered with the NBA since 198. Despite that, they have been left out of the conversation surrounding the league’s new media partnerships for weeks. This is a huge issue because Turner Sports, the parent company of Warner, is what runs the NBA on TNT and the popular Inside the NBA, which stars Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny “The Jet” Smith.

Though much discussion has focused on Inside the NBA’s termination due to the NBA’s Warner collaboration disintegrating in the wake of the new media rights agreement, it seems like things might be heading in a different direction. According to Front Office Sports, Warner Bros. Discovery is still pursuing a new agreement with the NBA. Now, they are negotiating a potential fourth media rights package with commissioner Adam Silver and the organization.

Read More: Metro Boomin Partners With The NBA For New 2024 Finals Campaign

TNT Is Fighting To Save “Inside The NBA”

 
 
 
 
 
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The NBA may be interested in a fourth package, given the money involved. Despite the fact that the league has concentrated on the three deals it has negotiated with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. This fourth, smaller media package may include the regular season and a few postseason games. With all the talk about Inside the NBA, the NBA might be on to something, creating a smaller media package right now. Globally, Barkley, Smith, O’Neal, and Johnson are revered by hoops fans. Many people consider their show to be the greatest sports program on television since it has been so successful over the years.

Salvaging Inside the NBA will be at the top of both parties’ lists during these talks since Silver and the league acknowledge the success Warner Bros. Discovery has had building the NBA brand. It is also important to note that TNT runs NBA TV and NBA.com, which may cause issues if the league were to sever ties with the business. Overall, all hope is not lost for Inside the NBA fans.

Read More: NBA Closing In On $76 Billion Rights Deal With ESPN, NBC, And, Amazon, “Inside The NBA” Is Done

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NBA Closing In On $76 Billion Rights Deal With ESPN, NBC, And, Amazon, “Inside The NBA” Is Done

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The Wall Street Journal reports that the NBA is “closing in” on television deals with NBC, ESPN, and Amazon valued at $76 billion in media revenue over 11 years, starting after the 2024–25 season. These agreements may result in TNT’s cherished Inside the NBA program, which stars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, ending after the 2024–25 season. According to the source, NBC, which would reclaim the rights to broadcast NBA games for the first time since 2002, is anticipated to pay an average of $2.5 billion a year, with roughly 100 games each season.

The Peacock streaming service would host around half of those games. The games would take place on Tuesdays and Sundays when there are no “Sunday Night Football” obligations. The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon will pay $1.8 billion for their package. It includes regular-season and postseason games as well as the NBA In-Season Tournament and the Play-In Tournament. A “share” of the conference finals, which are scheduled to be split in rotation, would also be aired by the worldwide giant.

Read More: Anthony Edwards Led The Timberwolves In An Effort To Boycott “Inside The NBA”

NBA New Rights Deal Is Done, “Inside The NBA” Over

According to the source, Disney, which currently telecasts NBA games, will keep the rights for $2.6 billion annually, an increase from the previous agreement of $1.5 billion annually. The NBA Finals will air on its network of channels, but the current package will include fewer games. The deal would enable games to be aired on its soon-to-be-launched “direct-to-consumer streaming service,” which is scheduled for 2025. According to the article, these agreements will raise the NBA’s annual fees by more than 2.5 times their previous level, approximately $7 billion a season. The agreements include rights to WNBA games.

Although “options are limited,” the article states that Warner Bros. Discover, the company that owns TNT and “Inside the NBA,” can match NBC or Amazon’s packages. The NBA may even develop a new package. The organization, which reportedly owes $40 billion, missed the opportunity to extend the agreement before it expired on April 22. Since 1988, TNT has carried NBA games. Overall, it seems likely that the next NBA season will be the last for Inside the NBA.

Read More: NBA News: TNT Loses NBA Rights, “Inside The NBA” Is Coming To An End

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Charles Barkley Hints At The Possibility Of “Inside The NBA” Moving Under His Production Company

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TNT appears to be losing the NBA, and Charles Barkley is upset and not about to back down. The NBA legend and commentator on the popular NBA studio show Inside The NBA appeared on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday morning. He took some jabs at his parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. He also floated an interesting idea. He said that in the event that TNT Sports loses the NBA rights, he has explored reassembling the program at his own production company. 

Barkley added that he had spoken with Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal, his co-hosts, about the idea. It should be noted that WBD holds the rights to Inside the NBA. Nevertheless, if Barkley were to succeed independently, he could be able to reassemble the show under a different moniker. It is a solution to many NBA fan’s fears. The longtime program is beloved, and there has been a visible outpouring on social media celebrating and grieving the show as it looks likely next season will be its last. Charles Barkley is clearly fed up with the whole situation and is not afraid to let it show. 

Read More: Shaq Starts Hilarious “BBL Chucky” Chant On “Inside The NBA”

Charles Barkley May Have A Way To Save “Inside The NBA”

Charles Barkley said, “I have my own production company, I would love to do that if if we lose it [NBA rights],” Barkley said. “But I have definitely had — actually somebody suggested that to me, to be honest with you, on the internet — ‘so why doesn’t Charles Barkley sign these three, guys four guys total to his production company and sell it?’ I’m like, ‘That’s a great idea.’” it is a potential save that could actually work. Ernie Johnson would likely not be joining them as he stated he would remain at Turner Sports despite the NBA loss. 

Barkley then went on to remark about the environment and mood around the studio. “Morale sucks, plain and simple. You know, I just feel so bad for the people I work with Dan,” Barkley said before criticizing his bosses at WBD. “These people I work with, they’ve screwed this thing up clearly. And we don’t have zero idea what’s going to happen. I don’t feel good. I’m not gonna lie, especially when they came out yesterday and said we bought college football. I was like, well damn, they could have used that money to buy the NBA.” Overall, there is a sad cloud around Inside the NBA. Let’s hope they find a way to save the iconic basketball show. 

Read More: LeBron James And Charles Barkley Receive Backlash For Caitlin Clark Support

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Shaq Starts Hilarious “BBL Chucky” Chant On “Inside The NBA”

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On the Emmy-winning program ‘Inside the NBA,’ the dynamic quartet of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, along with guest Draymond Green, were in their element while covering Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals series between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves. Amidst their usual basketball discussion, a hilarious moment unfolded. Last week, when the Timberwolves eliminated the Nuggets, Anthony Edwards, in a moment of jest, told Charles Barkley, who claimed he hadn’t been to Minnesota in 20 years, ‘Bring your a**.’ This response instantly went viral. The ‘Inside the NBA’ crew, true to their nature, had a field day with the incident during their recent broadcast, with Shaq even referencing Metro Boomin’s infamous Drake diss. 

Since the TNT program would be in town to cover the aforementioned games, Charles only wanted to ask Edwards for a list of places. His question gave us Anthony Edwards’s “Bring you a**” quote as well as confirmation he will send the Chuckster Minnesota’s best restaurants, the All-Star guard promised. During last night’s broadcast, they displayed photoshopped pictures of Barkel and the crew referencing Edwards’s viral quote. It prompted Shaq to wildly say, “I didn’t know you had all that a** back there, Chuck! Let me see Chuck’s feature again. MOM. BBL Chuck! BBL Chucky!”

Read More: Draymond Green Disrespects Kobe Bryant, Tells Shaq How The 2016 Warriors Would Beat His Lakers

Shaq Seranades Charles Barkley With “BBL Chucky” Chant

Shaq’s jab against Barkley is a clear nod to Metro Boomin’s popular Drake diss record, “BBL Drizzy.” The song made an allusion to the purported cosmetic procedure that Drake was accused of having undergone. Shaq made a clever move by using the freshly released diss track to taunt Barkley. Everybody on the set was laughing, even Sir Charles. 

The Inside The NBA crew is still enjoying themselves despite the tough times for the program. The impending end of the show is becoming more and more a reality as the NBA has decided to look elsewhere for its NBA rights. How can you look at last night’s “BBL Chucky” moment and not want the show to continue? It’s so good people are willing to just ignore that Draymond Green is there. Overall, it was one of many hilarious moments the show has had over the years.  

Read More: Shaq Responds After His Ex-Wife Says She Doesnt Know If She Ever Loved Him

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NBA News: TNT Loses NBA Rights, “Inside The NBA” Is Coming To An End

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It is rumored that NBA executives plan to negotiate $7.4 billion annual broadcast deals with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. Furthermore, this would be a serious setback for TNT. As talks go into the “final stage,” rumors state that the NBA is formalizing written contracts with each of the three corporations this week. Inside the NBA, fans who watch TNT are sure to be outraged by the news. The show, featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson as commentators, is reportedly set to end.

If these negotiations go through, the upcoming season of the program will be its last. There are currently rumors that Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT, may file a lawsuit. The league’s most valuable series of games, which include the NBA Finals, a Conference Final, weekly primetime matchups, and the WNBA, are reportedly worth $2.8 billion to ESPN annually. NBC is expected to pay $2.6 billion a year for the “B” package. The package is expected to feature a program named Basketball Night in America that will run on Sunday nights following the NFL season. Additionally, the report says that NBC will guarantee two primetime spots each week, a conference semifinal and a conference final.

Read More: Charles Barkley Jokes About TNT Sadly Losing The NBA

Inside The NBA Is Likely At It’s End

The WNBA, first-round playoff games, and the In-Season Tournaments would all be included in Amazon’s contract. Furthermore, their deal is reportedly valued at up to $2 billion. It is anticipated that the deal’s final details will be worked out throughout the coming week. Charles Barkley has said of TNT potentially losing the NBA, “Barkley was a little less certain, adding: ‘It’d be sad (if the show ended). We don’t know… I hope it does (continue). Not just for me and Kenny, Ernie, and Shaq, but for the real people who work there, it sucks right now to be stressful.”

Fans have been grieving the iconic show’s likely demise by posting clips of their favorite moments on social media. When TNT’s contract runs out next season, it will definitely be the end of an era. Overall, this is sad news for NBA fans. Ultimately, Inside The NBA will continue to cover the NBA throughout the next season, so fans should be sure to cherish the iconic show while it’s still on.

Read More: Charles Barkley Could Become A Free Agent If TNT Loses The NBA

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Bill Simmons Hints On Podcast That NBC’s NBA Deal Is Confirmed

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NBC has caused quite a stir with their bid to secure NBA rights for the next season. The Deal would push TNT out of the NBA business. The NBA hasn’t formally confirmed which network prevailed in the bidding war to broadcast league games. Based on Bill Simmons’ comments, it appears that NBC has emerged victorious. Additionally, this means that Inside the NBA is set to come to an end. Turner Sports had to match or exceed NBC’s offer. Now, NBA fans are already mourning the iconic late-night basketball show. If the news is true, fans are going to miss watching Shaq, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson together.

TNT’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, had to dig deep, shelling out $2.8 billion to win the bidding war over NBC. Additionally, NBC was reportedly prepared to pay $2.5 billion for the NBA broadcasting rights. During the most recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” the media personality hinted that NBC has come out on top. Overall, while there could be an Inside the NBA on NBC, it’s clear that it will not be the same, leaving fans to wonder about the future of their beloved show. 

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Calls Bill Simmons Rant About Prince Harry And Meghan Markle “Excessive”

Bill Simmons Says NBC’s NBA Bid Has Won Over TNT

Bill Simmons, a trusted NBA insider, asserts that for two weeks the deal has been done. He says, “One of the funniest things ever is that we’re all pretending the TV deal wasn’t done like a week-and-a-half ago.” He continued, “I think it’s done. I think Warner already lost it. I don’t know why we’re waiting til after the playoffs. Maybe that’s how they have to do it, but it’s a wrap. NBC’s getting it.” Unfortunately for Inside the NBA fans, Simmons’ track record suggests that he might be spot on with his assessment. 

NBA fans should probably savor these next few weeks of the playoffs. Inside the NBA has become an iconic fixture in basketball. The chemistry between everyone is special, and other networks like ESPN have been trying to replicate it unsuccessfully for a decade. Furthermore, even if it comes back on NBC, it won’t be the same. The show was able to go to places other sports shows couldn’t because it operated more like a late-night talk show. Overall, if the news is true, it will be a sad day for NBA fans. Ultimately, it will be the end of an era when Inside the NBA isn’t on TV anymore. 

Read More: Charles Barkley Could Become A Free Agent If TNT Loses The NBA

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Is It the Braids?! Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” Soundtracks ‘Inside the NBA’

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Is It the Braids?! Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Soundtracks 'Inside the NBA'

Inside the NBA are in the beef streets. During the cut to commercials and returns to their in-studio segments, Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” played in the background. The hosts noticed and offered a brief bit of commentary. You can see the moment below.

King Kendrick is running it up on the streams. His new diss track targeting Drake, “Euphoria,” set a new mark for the largest streaming day for a Hip-Hop song in 2024 on Spotify.

According to Chart Data, the single had 9.206 million streams on its opening day. Additional stats are below.

Kendrick Lamar’s single is registering with fans, but it appears to get the support of rappers, too. Hitting Instagram, 50 declared the diss “real hip hop.”

“This is real hip hop shit go check it out, I would have posted it but it’s too long,” 50 wrote.

The post Is It the Braids?! Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” Soundtracks ‘Inside the NBA’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Is It the Braids?! Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” Soundtracks ‘Inside the NBA’ appeared first on The Source.