Starting next season, ESPN will broadcast the popular “Inside the NBA” through a licensing agreement with TNT, which lost its NBA rights to ESPN, Amazon, and NBC. This deal ensures that Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal continue their acclaimed pre- and postgame show on a network with NBA broadcasting rights.
However, ESPN’s existing studio show, “NBA Countdown,” which has often been criticized in comparison, will not be replaced. Instead, both shows will coexist in the 2025-26 season, with “Inside the NBA” taking the lead for major events.
According to Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, “Inside the NBA” will anchor ESPN’s pregame and halftime coverage for high-profile occasions, including the NBA Finals, conference finals, playoffs, opening week, Christmas Day, all ABC games after January 1, and the season’s final week. Addressing concerns about the show’s lengthy, free-flowing format—a hallmark of its success on TNT—ESPN plans to adopt a hands-off approach, similar to its handling of “The Pat McAfee Show,” allowing the crew to run late-night postgame segments.
However, logistical challenges remain, as ABC games may shift postgame coverage to ESPN, and midweek games could overlap with the popular “SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt,” requiring scheduling flexibility.
Additional complications arise from TNT’s plans to produce a highlight-less version of “Inside the NBA,” which Barkley called “the stupidest s— ever” on the Dan Patrick Show. Barkley also reiterated his intention to retire after two more years, despite having seven years left on his contract, though his history of unfulfilled retirement promises casts doubt on this claim. As ESPN navigates these dynamics, the integration of both shows remains a work in progress, with flexibility being critical to maintaining the essence of “Inside the NBA.”
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