Movies

‘Stupid idea’? Charles Barkley says ‘Inside the NBA’ hosts may have another show on TNT

BBG News

As a movie buff and avid fan of sports analysis, I found myself emotionally moved over the weekend as the “Inside the NBA” crew bid their heartfelt farewells on TNT. Word has it that this beloved show is set to air on ESPN from the upcoming season, signaling the end of an era on TNT. It’s a bittersweet moment for fans like myself, but I am eagerly looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this exceptional team and their captivating analysis.

However, could this have been their final appearance as a group on TNT, using that particular format with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson?

Maybe not, based on comments Barkley made Monday on “The Dan Patrick Show.”

Before we all jump to conclusions, remember that Barkley initially mentioned that TNT might be attempting something rather unwise secretly.

He repeatedly called it “foolish” when referring to another proposed program for TNT, distinct from the one being transferred to ESPN/ABC, which will feature Barkley, O’Neal, Smith, and Johnson debating the NBA as well.

Sports

Charles Barkley, set to appear on ‘Inside the NBA’ on ESPN during the upcoming season, criticized ESPN’s on-screen personalities, particularly Kendrick Perkins, as being “misguided” or “uninformed,” for asserting that the Lakers played a key role in salvaging the NBA season.

A month ago, we filmed a trial episode, and honestly, it was the most foolish thing I’ve ever witnessed during my lifetime,” Barkley stated.

TNT did not respond to requests for comment for this article. ESPN declined to comment.

Last summer, when TNT wasn’t included in the NBA media rights deal with NBCUniversal, Disney, and Amazon, many predicted that “Inside the NBA” might come to an end after 35 years of airing.

But the popular show was given a lifeline months later.

Starting from the 2025-26 basketball season, ESPN, along with TNT Sports and the National Basketball Association, have teamed up to broadcast the acclaimed Inside the NBA studio show solely on their platforms, as announced in a press release on November 18. Meanwhile, TNT Sports will maintain its independence by continuing to produce Inside the NBA from its studios based in Atlanta throughout the term of this agreement.

Hollywood Inc.

The much-loved studio program continues to exist, being included in the legal agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA.

The esteemed Inside the NBA team will be seen on ESPN and ABC during major live sports events such as pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage for the NBA Finals on ABC, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, all games after January 1st, Christmas Day matches, opening week, the final week of the season, and other notable live events.

Barkley referred to that schedule while talking with Patrick.

According to Barkley, we won’t be appearing on ESPN as frequently as many people believe. He estimates that our work for ESPN will likely be around half or even a third of the total time.

Barkley said that’s where the idea of a separate show on TNT came from.

He commented that it seems they aim to create the impression that they’re contributing towards us getting our earnings from TNT.

Sports

It’s expected that the popular ‘Inside the NBA’ program on TNT, featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, may conclude at the end of the 2024-25 NBA season, as the league is planning to depart from the network.

Barkley said he thinks it’s “a stupid idea for a couple reasons.”

1st point, TNT won’t show basketball highlights, as indicated by Barkley. 2nd point, we might encounter competition with an actual NBA game. In essence, anyone who appreciates basketball would likely prefer watching the game itself on Amazon, ESPN, or NBC instead of four individuals discussing trivial matters. The situation is complex, and as he mentioned, a pilot episode featuring foolish activities was recorded, which proved to be just that – foolish.

Barkley explained: “We couldn’t show highlights, so for about an hour and a half, we filmed this pilot, looking at each other, wondering ‘What on earth are we doing?’ But TNT deserves credit. Immediately after the pilot, they acknowledged it was silly and said, ‘We need to come up with something better.’

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2025-06-03 21:01

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