ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Sends Message to TNT as Charles Barkley Reveals Aftermath of ‘Inside the NBA’ Split

Who would’ve thought that TNT’s rival analyst would be rooting for them? However, Stephen A. Smith’s friendship with Shaq, Chuck, and Kenny outlasts their analyst jobs. With chatter of TNT losing NBA and potentially disbanding the Inside the NBA quartet, Smith couldn’t stay quiet about it. He addressed it on his self-titled show appealing his friends over at TNT to be united. Sadly for a lot of fans, ESPN getting the better deal means structural changes are in order at TNT even if they do retain one of the remaining NBA media packages.

Charles Barkley has been the most honest about what the future of Inside the NBA could look like. After previously stating that Ernie Johnson, who’s been running Inside the NBA since its inception in 1989, would not leave TNT, he doubled down. He said on NBA Radio that Ernie could retire sooner than jump ship to NBC.

Smith emphasized what a tragedy that would be by calling Inside the NBA, “The standard.” He went on to explicitly address TNT and all involved networks in the NBA media rights negotiations. “I know television and I know that I don’t give a damn what network you are. If you have an opportunity to have Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith together you do not break that up.” Preach, SAS!

Smith insisted the Inside Crew should never disband. Which is a possiblity that Barkley shared. “It sucks right now,” Chuck mourned. He’s also considered retirement and would be okay walking away from TV. But he’s worried about the 200 people working behind the scenes that could lose their jobs.

When asked about moving to another network, Barkley didn’t give any false hope. “I know Ernie would not go anywhere. He’s almost 70 years old. I think he’s gonna retire sooner than later.” As for himself, he’s willing to listen before making any major decision. But it does look like if they do continue on TV, it may without Ernie. Unless TNT and the NBA listen to Smith and find a way of keeping Inside the NBA running the way it is now.

Stephen A. Smith needs the band together

The official broadcast partners will be announced after the conference finals. The anxiety levels at Turner are at a record high until then. Though reports indicate that NBC has pretty much sealed the deal with a $2.5 billion bid, double the $1.2 billion TNT pays the NBA, Warner Bros Discovery is not out of the running yet. TNT is going all guns blazing into the negotiation to fight for Inside the NBA.

There are reportedly three packages in the deal. ESPN has retained package A with marquee rights to the finals as the primary sports broadcaster for the NBA. The battle between TNT and its rivals is for package B or the less desirable package C. Package B includes every other conference final. Doubling their annual compensation to the NBA for a less lucrative deal would make it difficult to retain top paid analysts of Inside the NBA.

For Smith, it’s irrelevant. He says if not Tuesday or Thursday, keep the show on Sunday. Or keep Shaq, Chuck, and Kenny on a new network. He admires The Godfather and know he can’t easily pat with TNT but he wants his best friends to stay together. Same, SAS, same.