After 35 seasons as the centerpiece of TNT’s NBA programming, Inside the NBA concluded its iconic run on the network following Game 6 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals between the Pacers and Knicks. The farewell episode was filled with emotion, as Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller offered heartfelt tributes to the many voices behind Turner Sports’ legacy.
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal closed the show with their signature blend of humor and sincerity.
Inside the NBA Leaves TNT: Legacy, Final Episode, and What Comes Next
After nearly 40 years as a pillar of NBA coverage, Inside the NBA ended its celebrated run on TNT following Game 6 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. With NBA broadcasts departing TNT next season, the popular studio show will find a new home on ESPN and ABC—but its familiar core of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal will likely stay intact.
“I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,’” Johnson said during the broadcast, setting down his microphone before walking away from the desk for the final time.
Ernie Johnson with an emotional sign-off from ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT. 🏀📺🎙️❤️ #NBA pic.twitter.com/bQnGdPvtOe
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 1, 2025
TNT’s exit from NBA broadcasting comes as the league enters an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal beginning with the 2025–26 season, which set NBA records for its length and total value. The agreement keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the NBA back to NBC, and launches a new streaming partnership with Amazon Prime Video.
Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company, did not retain direct broadcast rights after negotiations concluded in mid-2024. However, a sub-licensing deal ensures Inside the NBA will continue on ESPN and ABC, produced by Warner Bros.
This probably means ESPN will keep the format and crew of the program unchanged. President of content Burke Magnus had said that in November, and chairman of the network Jimmy Pitaro spoke on the same line in May.
O’Neal addressed the show’s new chapter during the farewell, stating,
“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same. And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to (expletive) around. … We’re taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.”
Kevin Harlan echoed the mood, telling viewers,
“Our hearts are full of gratitude. Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege.”
Since debuting in 1989, the show has evolved into a cultural force, known for its unscripted humor, candid takes, and iconic segments like “Shaqtin’ a Fool” and “Gone Fishin’.” Johnson took over as full-time host in 1990, with Smith, Barkley, and O’Neal joining over the next two decades.
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“The show, which has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards, will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN’s pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, NBA playoffs, all ABC games after Jan. 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events,” ESPN’s official statement on licensing the show read.
The fans are surely keeping their fingers crossed for October to appear.
