Did Shaq & Kenny Smith Ditch Inside the NBA Already? Explaining TNT Veterans’ Return To Live TV at Finals Game 1

As Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown displayed a thunderous performance in Game 1 tonight, many celebrities showed up and graced the TD Garden, including the charismatic ‘Inside the NBA’ crew. After weeks of anticipation, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that the NBA has worked up a $76 billion deal with NBC, Amazon, and ESPN, that will take TNT’s media rights away and hand them to the respective networks. This would put an end to the long-running partnership of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson Jr. However, thanks to the Finals, NBA TV has given three of the members of the TNT crew the chance to continue hosting, at least temporarily.

ESPN is responsible for airing the NBA Finals. However, NBA TV has been, for quite some time now, given the liberty to host its own pre and postgame show during these series. Last year, the Live TV coverage reportedly had Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith serve as hosts in rotation. Since NBA TV is reportedly operated by Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent of TNT, they were able to have the trio grace the television screens of NBA fans. This is the reason why, despite Warner Bros recent difficulties, NBA TV was able to host Shaq and Kenny Smith, probably for one last time.

Instead of Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson, the duo had to host the show alongside former NBA player Grant Hill and TNT Sports personality Matt Winer. During the course of the segment, Shaq and Kenny Smith were seen debating on whether having Kristaps Porzingis available played a role in the Celtics’ Game 1 win, and whether the same will occur during the upcoming matchups as well. While Smith complimented the player by stating “How can you lose if your fifth-best player could be the first best-player on most bad teams in the NBA?”, the former Lakers legend highlighted his long absence to indicate that the player is unreliable.

Whatever their stances were, since a few members of ‘Inside the NBA’ reunite was all that fans could have asked for after hearing the unfortunate news.

Is TNT looking to save Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith’s ‘Inside the NBA’?

Despite the fact that the NBA seems adamant on handing over the media rights to ESPN, NBC, and Amazon, Warner Bros Discovery is still not backing down.

According to a recent update by NBA Central, sources indicate that TNT is currently looking to negotiate with the NBA for a smaller fourth media rights package, which would include coverage of regular season games, while the coverage of playoff games would be limited. While this will limit what the network showed to the worldwide audience for decades, it can still allow ‘Inside the NBA’ to live on.

Adam Silver and the rest of the NBA officials are reportedly aware that TNT is responsible for NBA TV and NBA.com. Therefore, they would not be looking to dismiss what the network is offering so easily.

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about WNBA star rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.