It's worth noting that Shaquille O'Neal was not part of the “Inside the NBA” set for the crucial Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Due to Shaq's sudden absence, NBA legend Vince Carter took his place along with Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, and Charles Barkley. Shaq did not explain the reason for his absence and did not appear on the show.
Vince Carter, who serves as a part-time analyst for Brooklyn Nets games and has appeared multiple times on “NBA on TNT,” appeared on the pregame show in Shaq's place. Despite Carter's presence, fans were left wondering about Shaq's whereabouts.
There's no word on whether Shaq will return to “Inside the NBA” for the Conference Finals.
In the latest update on the NBA playoff series, the Celtics won the series against the Cavaliers 4-1 despite multiple injuries. The Pacers shut out the Knicks in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden and will face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
In the Western Conference, the Mavericks defeated the Thunder in six games and the Timberwolves shocked the defending champion Nuggets in seven games to advance to the conference finals. The Mavericks and Timberwolves will play in the Western Conference Finals.
O'Neal's sudden absence comes amid growing concerns about his future with TNT and the NBA, likely indicating contract uncertainty.
Charles Barkley, a longtime analyst for TNT's “Inside the NBA,” expressed concern about the network's future on an ESPN Chicago radio show.
Barkley said he is “100%” concerned about TNT's ongoing negotiations over the NBA's next television rights deal. TNT Sports is currently battling with NBC over the final part of the deal, but Amazon Prime Video and ESPN/ABC have already won the deal, which is expected to last at least 10 years. TNT's existing contract with the NBA is scheduled to end after the 2024-25 season.
When asked about the future of “Inside the NBA,” Barkley, who has been on the show since 2000, admitted that the team doesn't have a clear idea of what's going to happen next.
“We could lose it. I feel really bad for the guys I work with. It's cruel,” Barkley told ESPN Chicago's Tom Waddle and Mark Silverman. Ta. “Everyone is scared to death.”
“Inside the NBA” first aired in 1989 and remains a cornerstone of NBA broadcast coverage. The current studio staff, which includes Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, has been together since O'Neal joined in 2011. Johnson has hosted the show since 1990, and Smith joined in 1998.
TNT Sports has been broadcasting NBA games for nearly 40 years. It is expected that TNT or NBC's new deal will include biennial conference finals, compared to TNT's current every-season arrangement. Both networks are also expected to maintain their annual All-Star Game broadcasts, with an offer reportedly at $2.5 billion per season.
Barkley believes there is a “50-50 chance” that TNT loses its media rights deal to NBC, but he hopes TNT's long-standing partnership with the NBA will work in TNT's favor. .
“You would think that if there was a close bidding war, we would be given the benefit of the doubt, but clearly that is not the case,” he said.
