Though “Inside the NBA’s” run on TNT is coming to an end, the popular show that features NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley plus Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, will live on.
The Emmy-award winning NBA telecast will air on ESPN and ABC beginning next season thanks to a licensing agreement with TNT Sports that will allow “Inside the NBA” to air on ESPN and it’s network affiliates while still being produced by TNT.
Ahead of Thursday’s Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, which could have been “Inside the NBA’s” final TNT broadcast had the Pacers closed out the series, the cast took time to wish their fans a heartfelt goodbye as they prepared to transition to their net network home.
O’Neal’s message, in particular, struck a chord with fans.
Shaquille O'Neal looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden.
Shaquille O'Neal looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden.
David Butler II-Imagn Images
“There's an old saying, when something passes away, something is reborn,” O’Neal said. “And yes, it is the ending of the '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're bringing the pain. Just letting you know right now. OK, I know everybody's sad that, ‘Oh, it ain't going to be the show.’ The show is still here, baby. You can never kill the four horsemen. We coming, and we coming to take spots. We coming to kick [expletive], and we coming to take names, and we doing it our way.
“You know, all the sadness about that show — we coming with a whole brand new show, and we don't care who in our way. We coming to kick [expletive] and take names. The name changes, but the boys are here. We them boys.”
Many fans have expressed concern with “Inside the NBA” moving to a new network that the tone of the show will drastically change.
Given ESPN’s reputation as a more modest company compared to TNT, some fans questioned if the network would try to subdue some of the show’s bigger personalities, namely O’Neal and Barkley.
But O’Neal’s remarks on Thursday seemed to have reaffirmed the nature of show won’t change, and he had fans fired up on social media.
“Shaq's hyping us up with that Big Fella energy,” one fan wrote.
“This is Shaq at his best,” another fan declared.
“Shaq’s energy hits different—unstoppable vibes,” a third fan commented.
“@SHAQ I’m all in!!!! ð¯,” exclaimed another.
“Shaq is the coolest hype man of all time,” one user said.
“Nothing like that hype to fuel the fire,” another user replied.