Shaquille O’Neal Drops Bombshell: Why ‘Inside the NBA’ at ESPN Is Staying Exactly the Same—No Matter What!

When a legendary show like “Inside the NBA” decides to pack its bags and head over to ESPN, you know things are gonna stir up quite a fuss. Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson aren’t just changing channels—they’re reshaping the fan experience, but get this—it looks like they’re staying firmly true to their roots. Shaq recently spilled the beans on “The Rich Eisen Show,” assuring us that he and Chuck won’t be softening their edges anytime soon, while tipping a hat to Ernie and Kenny’s steady professionalism. Think the same no-holds-barred vibe, just on a fresh stage—kinda like what we’ve seen with “The Pat McAfee Show.” And honestly? Fans have every reason to breathe easy. So many moving parts could’ve meant a shakeup, but the magic of “Inside the NBA” feels like it’s in the process of staying intact, even as the spotlight shifts. It’s a show refusing to lose its soul, despite a network change that would rattle just about anyone else. Curious to see how this unfolds?

LEARN MOREAdvertisementThe “Inside the NBA” crew recently wrapped its lengthy run on TNT, where it had become an iconic part of the NBA media ecosystem. When TNT’s parent company of Warner Bros. Discovery lost its NBA rights, the future of the show was in question until the network cut a deal with ESPN.”I don’t have any concerns because I know one guy that you’re never going to change, and I know another guy that’s really close to him. The other two guys — listen, Ernie is a consummate professional and he can adapt to any situation. Ernie is the guy that really keeps us out of trouble and Kenny is professional, but Chuck is right there on the line and I’m right below Chuck. Chuck’s not changing, I’m not changing.

TNT will continue to independently produce the show while airing it on ESPN, which reportedly plans to give the show its usual timeframe. Barkley has made perfectly clear he has no plans to change to fit in better at ESPN given how much he has blasted some of his future co-workers in recent months.

Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson are going to have a new home next season when “Inside the NBA” makes the transition to ESPN. So far, it’s looking like the show will be very similar to the one beloved by fans.

“I actually saw something yesterday where it said ESPN is going to give us the same no-look that they give Pat McAfee. So, listen, we’re just going to go have fun, do what we do and talk about the game that we love and just try to make people laugh.”

O’Neal’s response:Advertisement

It’s going to be the same “Inside the NBA” on a different network. (Photo by Andrew Burke-Stevenson/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)During an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Friday, O’Neal insisted that neither he nor Barkley will ever change, while praising the professionalism of Johnson and Smith. He also hinted at having a situation similar to “The Pat McAfee Show” which is also syndicated by ESPN from a different company.