Inside the NBA has a new home (ESPN) following TNT Sports’ removal from the NBA’s new media rights contract. Fans have been anxiously awaiting news from ESPN about when the show will debut on the network. Turns out, they won’t have to wait very long to get their fix.
On Thursday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced that Inside the NBA‘s new network debut will come during the Association’s opening week. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will grace ESPN’s airwaves on Oct. 22 and 23, before and after each night’s NBA doubleheader.
Inside the NBA, in its current form, has been around since Shaq joined the cast in 2011. The show has won 14 Sports Emmy Awards since Shaq’s arrival. It was inducted in the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2026, joining SportsCenter and Monday Night Football as the only sports programs to receive the honor (at the time). Inside the NBA also received the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2020.
ESPN spent years trying to acquire Inside the NBA, but was unable to make the acquisition until TNT Sports and the NBA declined to continue their partnership. While the show is airing on ESPN, it’s still being produced by TNT Sports from Atlanta. Because of this, there should be no alterations to the show’s typical banter and coverage of the league. However, we won’t know for sure until the show officially kicks off the 2025-26 campaign.
