The two go together like the proverbial ham and eggs… like bread and butter. We’re talking the National Basketball Association and the show that makes it all make sense, TNT’s Inside the NBA. Still, nothing good (or bad) lasts forever. Could “Inside” be heading into the sunset?
If you’ve paid attention to the business side of broadcasting the NBA, you know there’s been a lot of talk behind the scenes about the future of TNT / Turner Sports and it’s relationship with the NBA. There’s speculation that the long (long!) time partnership between Turner and the Association may be coming to an end.
Why? Well, money, of course. The contract between Turner Sports (corporate parent of TNT) and the NBA for the rights to broadcast NBA games is coming to an end. That doesn’t mean TNT is out of the game…it just means a new contract has to be signed – with some broadcasting company – for the start of the 2025-2026 season.
Should the Association decide to select a new broadcast partner, that could mean the end of the super-popular and award-winning “Inside the NBA” program featuring starring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and our man Shaq.
Still, as another popular sports broadcaster says, “Not so fast, my friend.” In a recent interview, O’Neal said it’s way too early to be jumping to any conclusions about who will be securing those coveted NBA game rights in the near future.
The BIG Podcast with SHAQ
Shaq says he has not been privy to any of the business conversations going on with the NBA and potential broadcast partners. What Shaq did say was that it would be “heartbreaking” should Turner be shut out of the deal, and Inside the NBA have to close down shop.
Shaq: “We don’t really have any information on it. I don’t like to think left or think right. But you know, I agree. If it’s the end of that show, I think it’ll be a travesty to everyone. … We don’t know what’s going on, but hopefully the powers and people [within TNT] will make sure that this show go well,” Shaquille said in a recent appearance on ‘Point Game’ with John Wall & C.J. Toledano.
There have been rumors that the NBC networks have been throwing around some really big numbers – about $2.5 billion, to be exact – to secure the NBA media rights. Of course ESPN (owned by Disney) and Amazon already have a smaller deal with the NBA. Does Turner still have a chance to stay in the game?
As we say often here on the ShaqFu Radio blog, stay tuned. The final chapter of this story has yet to be written, and there’s plenty that can happen before the final buzzer.
Meanwhile in the NBA Playoffs, the Joker continues to role up the record books. Just this past week (as of this writing), three-time MVP Nikola Jokic made even more NBA history by moving ahead of Hall of Famer Paul Pierce on the all-time assists list. Pierce has 579. He also leapfrogged Al Horford (with 580), and our man Shaq with 582.
Now, Jokic is currently 47th on the all-time playoff assists list, but of course he’s still playing. Next in his sights is Sam Cassell, who has 592.