Adam Silver spills truth on losing Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and crew over bidding war
Adam Silver comments on the sad reality of losing fans’ favorite TV show, Inside the NBA at the end of the season
Adam Silver talks about the sad loss of TNT’s Inside the NBA
For many years, TNT’s Inside the NBA has delivered an engaging mix of sports and entertainment to its viewers, largely due to the chemistry among its hosts. However, this era may soon end, as TNT recently lost its broadcasting rights in what has become a legal battle with the league, a situation that NBA commissioner Adam Silver deeply regrets.
In a recent interview with CNBC Sports, Adam Silver opened up about the dilemma he faced as the situation escalated from simply losing media rights to a full-blown court battle. Inside the NBA’s contract with the league is set to expire at the end of the current season.
Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal were the heart of the show, as they drew viewers not only with their game commentary but also with the fun and excitement they brought to each segment. Rumors of losing the rights began circulating until it became evident that TNT would not match the offers presented by NBC/Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon.
Although the show’s future remains uncertain, there was some good news when it was revealed that Barkley would stay on. While talk of a rebrand is still up in the air, one thing is clear: fans will miss this beloved show.
Charles Barkley jokes about getting fired as Inside the NBA’s final season begins
The 2024-25 NBA season marks the final year of NBA on TNT, as Turner Sports lost its broadcasting rights to the league. This means the beloved show Inside the NBA, which features Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, is entering its farewell season.
Charles Barkley, in his usual lively style, kicked off the season with his signature unpredictability. During Thursday’s broadcast, the “Round Mound of Rebound” humorously announced that he and Smith would wrap up the show by 1 a.m. ET, which prompted laughter from Johnson and O’Neal.
"12:29… We're walking out of here at 1 o'clock… What are they gonna do, fire us?" – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/U65GDIy545
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 25, 2024
That moment did its best to remind viewers of what they are definitely going to miss once their deal expires. While Adam Silver hates to see the way things turned out, sadly, there’s nothing he can do about it.
Ubong Archibong
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