The Indiana Pacers have an opportunity to close out the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night as they battle the New York Knicks in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
The Pacers enter this contest with a commanding 3-1 series lead, and a win on Thursday night will allow them to book their spot in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while also putting an end to the Knicks' playoff run.
This also means that this could be the final NBA broadcast for TNT as their TV deal with the league comes to an end at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The East finals is the network's last broadcast, which could mark the final "Inside the NBA" show for TNT.
Shaquille O'Neal addressed the issue at hand ahead of tip-off on Thursday night. The Hall of Fame big man, who represents one-fourth of the iconic "Inside the NBA" quartet, issued a big statement on the state of the show.
"There's an old saying, when something passes away, something is reborn," O'Neal started. "And yes, it is the ending of 'Inside the NBA' on TNT, but it's the new beginning for us.
"I'm glad we're still together on whatever network we go to. And whatever network we're coming to, we bring in the pain. Just letting you know right now."
TNT broadcaster Shaquille O'Neal (left) and Charles Barkley.
TNT broadcaster Shaquille O'Neal (left) and Charles Barkley.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
O'Neal then went on to confirm that "Inside the NBA" will continue, albeit with a different, currently unknown network. The Los Angeles Lakers icon also sent out a bold warning about what's coming.
"Okay, I know everybody's sad that, 'Oh, it ain't going to be the show,'" he continued. "The show is still here, baby. You can never kill the four horsemen. We're coming. And we're coming to take spots. We're coming to kick (expletive). And we're coming to take names. And we're doing it our way."
"So, you know, all the sadness about that show. We're coming with a whole brand new show. And we don't care who went our way. We're coming to kick (expletive) and take names.
"... The name changes, but the boys are here. We them boys. Don't ever forget it. We them boys."
O'Neal got his co-hosts, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley, all hyped up with his message. There's no denying that this is the end of an era for the iconic basketball show, but as O'Neal so clearly emphasized, the crew is here to stay.
There is currently no news yet on where O'Neal and the rest of the team will be headed next season, but they have made it abundantly clear that they will be back with a vengeance.