Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki made waves when he filled in for Shaquille O'Neal on TNT's “Inside the NBA.”
Why was the NBA Hall of Famer's appearance so much news? Because the Emmy Award-winning show is hugely popular with fans, and for the same reasons NBA fans are outraged by the uncertain future “Inside the NBA” faces.
The future of the wildly popular pre- and post-game shows remains unclear as the NBA is negotiating new media rights deals that could exclude Turner Sports' parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.
If WBD does not retain the NBA rights, next season will be the last for “Inside the NBA.”
According to a report from Sports Business Journal, the NBA's new media rights deal involves Disney/ESPN, NBC and Amazon and will see the league's broadcasts move from TNT to two new platforms.
WBD CEO David Zaslav is reportedly “hopeful” the two sides can reach an agreement, but the NBA is said to have already formalized its deal with Disney.
Even if TNT loses its ongoing partnership with the NBA, its current contract with the NBA runs through the end of the 2024-25 season, meaning NBA viewers will still be able to enjoy another year of Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith.
After that, Barkley will likely become a broadcasting free agent, Johnson reportedly intends to stay, Turner will continue in his role as lead studio host for the NCAA men's basketball tournament and MLB play-by-play, and O'Neal could move away from studio and television work entirely.
Though what is widely believed to be the best studio show in sports appears to be coming to an end, Barkley is ready to crack some dark comedy jokes.
The show has been home to segments that have become staples for NBA fans, such as “Shaqtin' a Fool” and “Gone Fishin'.” The show's meme-making prowess really took off when O'Neal joined the crew during the 2011-12 NBA season, and his banter with Barkley became must-watch for NBA die-hards and casual fans alike.
Studio staff are expected to continue work through the conference final round of the playoffs to conclude the 2024 season and then begin their final season together in 2025, barring major changes.
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