The NBA’s new television deal that will begin in the 2025-26 season is already set, and Turner Sports is not one of the three media outlets selected.
As has become a trend, Disney (ESPN), Amazon and NBCUniversal are the three networks that have secured deals for new NBA television rights, leaving Turner Sports (TNT) on the outside looking in.
While longtime NBA fans will be excited about the return of “NBA on NBC” and its iconic theme song “Roundball Rock,” the moment is bittersweet as it brings to an end everyone’s favorite basketball show, “Inside the NBA.” That leaves looming uncertainty surrounding the future of the show’s stars, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.
Focusing on O’Neal, the Hall of Fame center reportedly signed a 10-year extension with Turner Sports in 2020. He, along with Barkley, They are said to have termination clauses in their contracts.which could make Shaq a free agent in broadcasting terms following the news.
Let’s take a look at where O’Neal, in particular, could end up.
Shaquille O’Neal’s landing spots
“Inside the NBA” 2.0
A number of people, from Dan Patrick to Stephen A. Smith to Pat McAfee, have called for the “Inside the NBA” team to begin producing its own show.
Barkley talked about hiring the entire crew for his own production company on “The Dan Patrick Show” on May 23.
“I have spoken to the boys about the possibility of all of them signing with my production company.” Barkley said. “I would love to do that if [TNT loses the NBA]… We’re just sitting there waiting for these people to realize what they’re going to do.”
If that were the case, “Inside the NBA” could continue on its own platform where O’Neal could stay with Ernie, Chuck and Kenny.
Amazon
Inevitably, the next best places for O’Neal would be companies that landed television deals with the NBA.
Could Amazon Prime buy the rights and continue producing “Inside the NBA”? That remains to be seen.
But considering the way the network tapped highly-respected former players for its on-air talent on “Thursday Night Football,” it wouldn’t be a surprise if it tried to take the same approach for its NBA coverage.
Who better than the Emmy Award-winning quartet that has been going strong for more than two decades?
NBC
NBC will likely bring in its own team to try to replicate the best NBA studio show of the ’90s, but there’s no saying O’Neal — or anyone on the “Inside the NBA” crew — can’t be a part of that.
No details have been revealed about who NBC will tap to host its rumored “Basketball Night in America” show, but if O’Neal becomes a free agent as a broadcaster, one would have to assume he’ll get a phone call.
ESPN
Last but not least, ESPN.
ESPN has struggled to achieve the same level of success with its pregame and halftime shows that TNT has achieved with “Inside the NBA.” While ESPN doesn’t necessarily seem like the best cultural fit for O’Neal’s outsized personality, money talks.
If Disney were to offer O’Neal a substantial price to join their show, the great Diesel might consider it.
