The future of “Inside the NBA,” TNT’s long-running and beloved studio show, has been a significant topic during the NBA’s media rights negotiations.
Although some potential issues remain, the NBA’s rejection of Warner Bros. Discovery’s right-to-match claim suggests that TNT might be heading into its final season covering the NBA.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the end for “Inside the NBA.”
According to Jay Marine, the global head of sports for Prime Video, there might still be hope.
Marine explained to Sports Business Journal that Amazon Prime Video used “Inside the NBA” as a model for its Thursday night NFL pregame, halftime, and post-game show.
He mentioned that if the TNT cast of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson became available, there would be significant interest from Amazon. Marine emphasized the show’s high quality and entertaining nature, calling it the gold standard for studio programs. He added that the chemistry among the hosts was a key inspiration for their TNF pregame team.
However, there are several hurdles to overcome.
For one, Ernie Johnson might not want to leave Turner.
Additionally, Charles Barkley has announced that the 2024-25 NBA season would be his last, even if the NBA stayed with Turner. Barkley has also made it clear he has no interest in joining another network.
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Contractual obligations present another challenge. According to Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal, Barkley, O’Neal, and Smith are all under long-term contracts.
Although Barkley has suggested he has an out clause if WBD loses the NBA, sources indicate this might not be the case. The contracts have unique variables that could complicate any move to Amazon, NBC, or Disney, which are the league’s expected partners after the next season.
Despite these challenges, there appears to be a strong interest in preserving “Inside the NBA.” Whether this interest can overcome the logistical and contractual roadblocks remains to be seen.
