Inside NBA Moves to ESPN Marking New Era Amid $76B NBA Media Deals

Inside the NBA, the iconic basketball analysis show starring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, has transitioned from TNT to ESPN after 36 years, following the NBA's new media rights deal for the 2025-26 season. Despite initial nerves and past criticisms of ESPN by Barkley, the show debuted on ESPN with the same chemistry and humor that made it a cultural staple, continuing production in Atlanta through a sublicense agreement with TNT Sports. Barkley expressed both honor and nervousness about joining ESPN, calling it "the greatest sports network ever," though his co-hosts humorously called out his change of tune. The move came amid a massive $76 billion media rights deal involving ESPN, NBC, and Amazon, with NBC paying significant sums to return to NBA broadcasting but facing skepticism about the financial viability of its investment. ESPN plans to feature Inside the NBA prominently, with at least 20 episodes scheduled during the season, including major NBA events like Christmas Day and the playoffs. The show's continuation on ESPN reassures fans that the beloved show's spirit and team remain intact despite the network change.