Fans Roast Podcaster For Suggesting Kenny Smith Replacement on Inside the NBA

Fans were left questioning Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo after the latter's wild take regarding Kenny Smith and Mina Kimes.

Fans Roast Podcaster For Suggesting Kenny Smith Replacement on Inside the NBA

Kenny Smith and Ben Simmons (Image by FirstSportz)

With presenter Ernie Johnson bowing out of the final episode of his flagship television program “Inside the NBA,” Saturday night signaled the end of an era for the legendary NBA on TNT. The show ended after the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals Also, it sparked speculation about possible changes for the show as it moves to ABC and ESPN.

Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley will remain together in the NBA and continue to do most of their performances from Atlanta. Bill Simmons, however, is concerned that ESPN may soon attempt to alter the show’s dynamic and warns that viewers would become irate if it is even slightly off.

On his ‘The Ringer’ podcast, Simmons was discussing this topic alongside his guest, Ryen Russillo, where the latter made a bold claim. The former ESPN anchor hinted at an intriguing possible analyst trade. He claimed that the likes of Mina Kimes can replace someone as crucial as Kenny Smith on the show, leaving the NBA fans baffled.

Ben Simmons initially said, “You have to have these guys after games weighing in on the big picture on stuff that really only Barkley and Kenny…That’s where the show matters, and they can’t (expletive) with it.”

In addition, Ryen Russilo chimed in, stating, “What if they replaced Kenny with (ESPN hostess) Mina Kimes?” 

Russillo’s suggestion that ‘The Jet’ be replaced was most likely made in fun, but his remarks quickly went viral on social media, infuriating several fans. In 2014, Kimes started working for ESPN as a writer for ESPN the Magazine.

In December 2023, as she started to increase her visibility on multiple ESPN programming, she signed a multi-year contract worth $1.7 million with the network.

Following his playing career with the Houston Rockets, North Carolina Tar Heels, and other clubs, Smith became an analyst for Inside the NBA in 1998. Next year, he is anticipated to return to his position alongside Johnson and his colleagues as an analyst.

Fans left baffled by a recent Ryen Russillo take regarding ESPN hosts Mina Kimes and Kenny Smith

As part of a new 11-year, $77 billion TV contract, the NBA will move to ESPN, keeping games on that network and ABC while also returning to NBC. Additionally, the agreement establishes a new partnership with Amazon Prime Video. Despite all this, fans are still not over Ryen Russillo’s take regarding Mina Kimes and Kenny Smith (as mentioned above).

Many fans took to various social media apps to put forward their views and rants regarding the matter, with some still doubting Russillo’s words. One fan wrote on X, “Was he serious lmao” Many are not able to believe if this matter is true or not. However, Ben Simmons cleared the air by replying to the fans on X that Russillo was just ‘joking.’ Check out some of the reactions below:

Before making the formula change, ESPN would want to reconsider. The question still stands: Will network constraints compel a toned-down version of ESPN’s free-flowing banter that has earned 21 Sports Emmys, or can the network sustain it?

Shaquille O’Neal did not hesitate ahead of his move to the new ESPN show

The NBA on TNT show has been very special for NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who spent 14 years as an analyst on the show. With the show moving to ESPN, O’Neal made his views clear towards his new network on the last segment of the show during the Pacers vs Knicks Game 6 matchup.

And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to F around. Since it’s the last show, [I’ll] say it, we’re not coming to f— around, we’re kicking a–, we’re taking names, and we’re taking over. Ok? I love you guys, I appreciate you guys, but hey, and we’re coming over to take over that next network, too.

Shaquille O’Neal said

Standing solidly behind his longtime teammate, Kenny Smith reflected the same fervent spirit. Nevertheless, the message was about moving on, despite the nostalgia. Shaq, who has been with the team since 2011, called this a “new beginning” and looked straight ahead. And he truly did mean it.

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