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On May 31, 2025, Inside the NBA aired its final episode on TNT, marking the end of a legendary 35-year run that profoundly influenced sports television. Ernie, Chuck, Kenny, and Shaq said goodbye to the network that made them icons, as the NBA’s $76 billion media deal shifted broadcasting rights to ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. In an unusual arrangement, ESPN acquired the rights to air the show, but TNT continued producing it. This meant the show remains filmed in Atlanta, and the iconic team stays together. Fans will continue to enjoy the same chemistry that made the show a staple for decades, even as the network change occurred amid a massive $1.4 billion shift in the media landscape. NBC’s return to NBA broadcasting comes with a hefty price tag, and some within the company are already questioning the decision. According to Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal, NBCUniversal signed a $27 billion, 11-year deal with the NBA, costing roughly $2.5 billion per season- more than what the network currently pays for Sunday Night Football, including the Super Bowl. However, this move is part of NBC’s strategy to reestablish a major presence in the league after nearly two decades away. Nonetheless, the financial implications of the deal are being closely scrutinized. Are the numbers truly adding up for NBC’s massive NBA deal? Several insiders remain skeptical. Analyst Robert Fishman of MoffettNathanson told the Journal, “It is hard to make the math work on generating any substantial returns.” NBC has acknowledged the possibility of facing losses in the early years, potentially ranging from $500 million to $1.4 billion. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad But is that a reason to panic? Executive Dave Pietrycha reminded everyone, “All of these deals lose money discretely.” And Comcast co-CEO Mike Cavanagh pushed back, saying in a company memo that it’s “important to take big swings when they can benefit the company over the long term.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad NBC is playing the long game with its NBA deal, but the question remains: what exactly does the network hope to achieve? By tying the league’s broadcast rights to Peacock, NBC aims to boost subscriptions, increase ad rates, and enhance affiliate revenue across its extensive sports portfolio- including the NFL, Premier League, and the Olympics. The network has already raised ad prices to approximately $130,000 per 30-second spot, up from $50,000 under TNT, and plans to launch a new cable channel for games that were previously exclusive to Peacock. However, the gamble’s worth is still uncertain. As one insider told The Wall Street Journal, there’s a fine line between a strategic, long-term investment and a costly misstep- making those early projected losses feel even more tangible. Despite the looming financial risks, ESPN is clearly winning hearts. All thanks to Inside the NBA and its incredible crew. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Fans react: Inside the NBA thrives on ESPN despite big changes One fan joked, “Inside the NBA has been the same exact show it’s always been. First 8 minutes were hysterical. With TNT losing the NBA this was the best possible outcome for the show.” Charles Barkley, of course, might not fully agree with that last line. He had openly disliked the idea of working with ESPN and even called TNT “stupid” for not securing a deal with the league. Ernie made sure to highlight that in the first few minutes of the show itself. Barkley admitted he was “nervous” about his first night on the new network, but Ernie quickly rolled a montage of the times Barkley insisted he wouldn’t let ESPN treat him “like a dog.” From there, it was back to the teasing, the laughs, and the familiar energy fans have loved for decades. Another fan chimed in, “So far, Inside the NBA is the exact same on ESPN as it was on TNT. Love it.” The crew was all over the place, cutting each other off and teasing one another nonstop. The internet will definitely not forget the hilarious spoofed graphic of Chuck’s enormous world under ESPN or Shaq stealing the spotlight when he “gave a little soul” to the famous Popeye’s jingle, the show’s new sponsor, especially considering Shaq owns several fast-food franchises but not a single Popeye’s. Another fan shared the same sentiment: “It’s been less than an hour and the NBA Tip Off show with the Inside the NBA crew is already the best studio show to ever air on @ESPN. If you don’t watch Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq religiously then you ain’t a basketball fan and never will be.” The show continued breaking down the game and players. When the conversation shifted to the Lakers’ recent loss to the Warriors, Shaq didn’t hold back. He directly criticized Deandre Ayton, giving him a thumbs-down for his performance and outlining precisely what he needs to improve. Shaq stressed the importance of rebounding, protecting the rim, and asserting dominance in the post, noting that with stars like Luka Doncic on the court, Ayton had ample opportunities to take control if he focused and played with more alertness. Another fan shared their thoughts, saying, “If ESPN lets Inside the NBA be themselves like this long-term, it’ll work.” And it seems that’s exactly the plan. The biggest change for viewers won’t be the crew or the energy; it will be the schedule. Inside the NBA will no longer appear on multiple weeknights. Instead, it will air around the league’s biggest moments: the NBA Finals, Conference Finals, Christmas games, and other marquee matchups. The season kicked off with two shows in opening week, on October 21 and 23, but after that, broadcasts will be more sporadic. By the All-Star break, fans will only see nine episodes, far fewer than the steady rhythm they were used to. One fan joked, “If the first seven minutes of Inside the NBA tell us anything… ESPN ain’t controlling s—😂” And honestly, they had a point. Even before the first episode aired, Shaq had already reassured fans that the move to ESPN wouldn’t change the show they loved. “Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” he said, emphasizing that it wasn’t ESPN taking over, the crew was still calling the shots. And true to his word, the opening episode proved exactly that.
