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Along with the Knicks, TNT Sports got another chance to savor the NBA TV apple after New York’s victory over the Pacers on Thursday night.
With Indiana leading New York 3–1, Thursday’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals could have been TNT’s swan song after 36 years of televising NBA games in the U.S.
Yes, the iconic Inside the NBA will survive via a licensing deal with ESPN. But whether TNT gets one more playoff telecast or two in this best-of-seven series, it’s over after this season. NBA games will shift to NBC Sports, Amazon Prime Video, and incumbent ESPN starting with the 2025–26 season. However, TNT will remain in business with the NBA for overseas games and NBA Digital.
Given the make-or-break nature of last night’s telecast, TNT admirably played it straight. Play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan was the usual pro’s pro. He also took pains to praise TNT’s live-game camera operators and producers who may be out of a job next season. As columnist David Aldridge wrote on X/Twitter: “Love when Harlan names as many people on the @NBAonTNT production staff for game broadcasts as he can before signing off. No one knows how hard those folks work, 48-50 weeks a year, whether on hoops, baseball or football, to make the people in front of the camera look good.”
Before and after the game, the Inside the NBA cast of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson brought their usual mix of humor, basketball bona fides, and bombast.
Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns was one of the stars of the game. But that didn’t stop Barkley from asking, “Why do you be getting them dumb fouls?” Answered KAT: “God only knows. … I’ve got to do a much better job.”
Barkley also declared that Game 6 is a “must-win” for the Pacers in Indiana. “If they come back here, they’re going to get another ass-kicking like they did tonight,” he said from the hardwood floor of Madison Square Garden in New York.
Barring any changes, ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro told me he expects to keep the Inside the NBA “band” together next season. While the show will air on ESPN, TNT will retain 100% editorial control, and the cast will remain TNT employees. The last block fell into place when Front Office Sports broke the news that O’Neal was signing a contract extension worth more than $15 million a year.
The Diesel went on a pregame screed to remind loyal viewers—and ESPN—what to expect when the wild and woolly Inside the NBA moves to Disney’s airwaves this fall.
Said O’Neal: “Whatever network we go to, we’re bringing the pain. Just letting you know, right now. I know everybody’s sad. Aw, it’s not going to be the show. The show is still here, baby. You can never kill the four horsemen. We coming. We coming to take spots. We coming to kick ass. We coming to take names. And we’re doing it our way.”
