The group is back together, although they never truly broke up.
Left? Certainly. The crew, which included “Inside the NBA» switched from TNT when the cable network lost NBA broadcast rights on ESPN, NBC and Amazon after last season.
But the ensemble, which is somehow greater than the sum of its stellar parts, lives on, albeit now under the name NBA Tipoff.
The familiar lineup of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O'Neal and Ernie Johnson reunited for the pregame show ahead of Wednesday's ESPN doubleheader: the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs visit the Dallas Mavericks.
And they made fun of themselves and the World Leader. Any fears that ESPN's lawsuits would dampen the rowdy, often hilarious dynamic the quartet brought to the last decade-plus of “Inside the NBA”'s 36-year run were quickly dispelled.
O'Neal began by rebuking Johnson for mentioning the first NBA games on Tuesday night, which aired on NBC and the Peacock streaming service.
“You have to say this is TRON—a real premiere,” O'Neill laughs. “Don't forget who we are boys.”
Johnson gently pulled away, replying, “Don’t act like that!” to laugh more.
O'Neal said Smith was almost late to the show, and Smith said, “I haven't been this nervous since Game 7 of the NBA Finals.”
Barkley, who has been the most vocally skeptical of the move from TNT to ESPN, echoed that sentiment, saying, “I've been nervous all day.” But before he could continue in a more serious vein, Johnson interrupted him and clips were shown of Barkley expressing doubts about ESPN on “The Dan Patrick Show” and other media outlets.
More laughter ensued, although Barkley did his best to toe the company line, saying, “I'm not going to lie. Every person who's ever touched a ball has wanted to be on ESPN. It's the greatest sports network in the world. And it's an honor and a privilege to work with these guys.”
Johnson echoed Barkley, saying, “This is a dream come true,” and asked Smith if he felt the same. Smith sighed and replied, “I'll say yes, but do you all need a tissue for all those kisses?”
The laughter continued when a clip of Barkley previously expressing concern about his workload at ESPN was followed by a graphic showing his work “schedule” for Thursday, which included appearances every hour of the day, including during broadcasts of the World Ax Throwing League and the American Cornhole League.
The basketball analysis eventually followed with jokes and jabs, and O'Neal made a somewhat bold prediction regarding oft-injured former Lakers big man Anthony Davis, now playing in Dallas: “If AD plays 65 games, the Dallas Mavericks will be in the Western Conference Finals.”
“NBA Tip-Off” was scheduled to air pregame, halftime and postgame segments during Wednesday's doubleheader, and ESPN announced it will air for 20 days during the regular season, including game broadcasts on ESPN and ABC.
The formats will be different on each network. Pre-game shows on ESPN will begin one hour before kickoff, and post-game shows will begin immediately after the final buzzer. Pre-game shows on ABC will begin 30 minutes before kickoff. postgame shows air only after Saturday primetime games. ABC's NBA Sunday Showcase will also feature the NBA Tip-Off pregame show.
“We are proud that 'Inside the NBA,' one of the most iconic and beloved shows in all of media, will play a leading role in our coverage of the NBA,” ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus said in a statement two weeks ago. “Fans should expect the same great show they are accustomed to watching as it becomes an integral part of the biggest events in the NBA, including the NBA Finals.”
There was talk a few months ago that TNT might produce a standalone show with the same cast, as NBA Tip-Off would continue to be produced at TNT's studios in Atlanta this season. Barkley seemed to put the kibosh on the idea when he said the pilot episode, taped on TNT, was “just stupid.”
“First of all, we won’t have basketball moments. [on TNT]”,” Barkley said in June. “But also, we're probably going to play in an NBA game. And anyone who likes basketball isn't going to say, 'Hey, you know what?' Let me turn off the NBA game on Amazon, ESPN or NBC and go watch these four dudes sit around and talk about nothing.”
Instead, the quartet will continue to talk hoops and trade wisecracks, but only on ESPN and ABC.
“Inside the NBA” 2025–26 regular season. broadcast schedule
2025
October 22: ESPN and ESPN2.
October 23: ESPN
October 29: ESPN
November 12: ESPN
December 25: ESPN and ABC
2026
January 24: ABC
January 28: ESPN
January 31: ABC
February 7: ABC
February 20: ESPN
February 21: ABC
February 22: ABC
February 27: ESPN
February 28: ABC
March 1: ABC
March 6: ESPN
March 7: ABC
March 8: ABC
March 14: ABC
April 12: ESPN
