For 35 years, “Inside the NBA” on TNT has entertained basketball fans across generations. All thanks to the infamous television deals, the show drew its last breath after the Indiana Pacers won the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 6 on Saturday, May 31.
Chants of “TNT” filled the atmosphere as beloved hosts Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal bid their audiences farewell one final time.
Over the years, the show has collected 21 Sports Emmys and received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. It was the first NBA show to earn the honors, cementing the show as a fixture for the league and its fans.
Let’s take a look at all the “Inside the NBA” on TNT hosts in the broadcast’s history:
All ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT Hosts in History
Primary Hosts
- Ernie Johnson – lead studio host
- Shaquille O’Neal – analyst and “Shaqtin’ a Fool” Presenter
- Kenny Smith – analyst
- Charles Barkley – analyst
- Adam Lefkoe – fill-in host
- Draymond Green – fill-in analyst
- Candace Parker – fill-in analyst
- Grant Hill – fill-in analyst
- Vince Carter – fill-in analyst
- Jalen Rose – fill-in analyst
Former
- Magic Johnson – analyst
- Kevin McHale – analyst
- Gary Payton – analyst
- Steve Kerr – analyst
- Reggie Theus – analyst
- Peter Vecsey – analyst
- Dwyane Wade – analyst
- Chris Webber – analyst
- Jamal Crawford – analyst
- Marc Fein – fill-in studio host
- Kevin Frazier – fill-in studio host
- Jim Huber – contributor
- Bob Lorenz – fill-in host
- Cheryl Miller – interviewer
- David Aldridge – contributor
- Casey Stern – fill-in host
‘NBA on TNT’ Tuesday
- Adam Lefkoe – Host
- Shaquille O’Neal – analyst
- Candace Parker – analyst
- Vince Carter – analyst
‘Inside the NBA’ Bids an Emotional Farewell to the World
After a historic run time, the show finally came to an end. The studio lights went off for the last night, never to be turned back on again. The logo that shines, the pre-production team, the dazzling voices, decades of history, and fun — all came to a halt on Saturday.
The show is now moving on to ESPN and ABC next season. Despite the end, the core team of Johnson, Smith, O’Neal, and Barkley will stay together doing the new run from Atlanta. Their final sign-off on TNT was rather emotional.
Before turning his back to the camera, Johnson signed off by saying, “I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT.'” He placed his microphone on the table, got up one final time, and walked away.
“Thanks for watching us. It’s been the NBA on TNT.” pic.twitter.com/6OulhnyL49
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 1, 2025
TNT will not air any NBA games from the next season as the league’s new TV deal kicks in. The 11-year media deal with ESPN and ABC is worth at least $76 billion, according to the NBA. It also brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video, too.
NBA Finals will be televised on ABC, going forward, meaning the Eastern Conference Finals between Indiana and New York were the last set of games to be televised on TNT. TNT has broadcast the games since the network launched in 1988, after Turner Sports acquired the NBA package in 1984.
During his final broadcast, O’Neal also did not shy away from expressing his emotions. “Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” O’Neal said. “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.”
On-air tributes went out to multiple current and past broadcasters, hosts, and analysts after the end of the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers game. Some names included: Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Cheryl Miller, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Brian Anderson, Candace Parker, and others.
After covering the play-by-play segment for years, Kevin Harlan also bid an emotional farewell to his audiences.
“Our hearts are full of gratitude,” Harlan said. “Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.”
Barkley spoke about how he switched to TNT after he was almost going to sign with NBC for his broadcasting career.
“I just want to say thank you to the NBA,” Barkley said. “Every coach I’ve had, every player I’ve played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we’ll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.”
Johnson credited the TNT production crew, who have also gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, for their hard work they’ve put in all these years. “Best production crew in the business, I might add,” he said.
Emotions ran high as Smith pitched in, “This has just been a magnificent ride”.
