Fading into the sunset is not Shaq’s thing. He and his TNT crew are taking a shot and keeping Inside the NBA going. Where Charles Barkley has been giving a play-by-play of his situationship with TNT, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny “The Jet” Smith have kept their thoughts to themselves. O’Neal has kept it vague but hopeful; He stopped by The Rich Eisen Show for the first time since the regular season began. Contrary to how he keeps up the banter outside TNT too, Shaq expressed his thoughts about his colleagues and gave us a little glimmer of hope.

The Inside Guys are in what is touted as the final season. There’s speculation that the show will rebrand, provided the entire crew doesn’t disband. Shaq does hint that keeping the gang together is a priority.

Rich Eisen, one of the biggest voices appealing to the NBA to keep Inside the NBA, asked Shaq about the chances of them staying together. Shaq responded, “I’m always keeping it professional…” (a little jab at Barkley perhaps for his multiple tirades at TNT and the NBA). “There’s some things going on and hopefully we can get the situation resolved.” 

That does sound like TNT and the Inside Guys are working out a way to keep the show going. Previously, TNT stated it would take the legal route to retain the NBA, though at least Barkley is opposed to it. Some fans want the crew to go to ESPN, NBC, or Amazon, the new NBA media partners.

Kenny said it would be “monumental” if all four of them moved to another network. It’s accurate considering they are potentially the most expensive sportscasting free agents in history. Some industry insiders claim that Shaq doesn’t even need TNT while he’s successful in so many other media ventures and he has established business relations with Amazon. Even Barkley hinted that he could follow Shaq, Ernie, and Kenny despite staying at TNT. However, O’Neal is not looking for new colleagues or a new job.

“I love the guys and hope it works out,” is all he could confirm at the moment. So things sound hush-hush at TNT but hopeful. Meanwhile, Shaq’s committed to sticking with the same crew.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals his true feelings about the Inside Guys

Usually, Shaquille O’Neal will throw lines like, “I hate you Chuck” even while flying solo outside TNT. This time, the big softie expressed his real feelings. He agreed with Rich Eisen that the NBA should keep the show going. O’Neal can vouch for the significance of the 35-year-old show in pop culture because of the role it had in his own NBA career.

Inside the NBA began in 1989 when Shaq was on track to LSU. “Ernie made me famous,” he tells Eisen. The Godfather visited the O’Neal home in an army base 22 years before that same Tigers alum would sit beside Ernie in Studio J. “Being able to sit next to him especially for the past 12 years… it’s just been a wonderful thing.” 

Shaq even said that Charles is “the older brother I always wished for.” He feels the same about Kenny and he wants to keep working with them for as long as he can. Shaq said he’s had multiple dreams that came true. Fingers crossed, this one does too.