Stephen A's Take: Stephen A reacts to the legendary TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ moving to ESPN. - The Stephen A. Smith Show

Episode Summary: Stephen A's Take: Stephen A Reacts to the Legendary TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ Moving to ESPN

Release Date: June 3, 2025
Podcast: The Stephen A. Smith Show
Host: Stephen A. Smith

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the significant transition of the beloved basketball program, Inside the NBA, from TNT to ESPN. This move marks the end of a 35-year legacy on TNT and the beginning of a new chapter on a different network. Stephen A. provides his unfiltered opinions, analyses the implications of this switch, and shares his outlook on what fans can expect moving forward.

1. The End of an Era on TNT

Stephen A. begins by acknowledging the monumental conclusion of Inside the NBA's tenure on TNT. He reflects on the long-standing relationship between the show and the network:

"It was the end of a 35-year run of basketball on the NT on TNT. However, inside the NBA will carry on next season with ESPN."
[01:15]

He emphasizes the emotional weight of this transition, recognizing the deep connections fans and the hosts have with TNT:

"I get the nostalgia, I get the affection that you have for TNT. Listen, they're an institution."
[01:35]

2. Transitioning to ESPN: Continuity and Change

Addressing concerns about potential changes, Stephen A. assures listeners that the core elements of the show will remain intact despite the network switch:

"Inside the NBA will continue to be produced by TNT Sports. And listen, I get the nostalgia..."
[02:00]

He highlights that the show's move to ESPN will retain the same crew, production team, and studio setup in Atlanta:

"Same crew, the same production team, the same studio in Atlanta, same personnel, same producers. It's their show that is what we are bringing to ESPN."
[02:25]

Stephen A. reinforces that the quality and chemistry of the hosts—Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal—will remain unchanged:

"They can't change them. Same production team, same studio... They are phenomenal. These guys are friends of mine."
[03:10]

3. Emotional Farewells and Enthusiastic Greetings

While acknowledging the bittersweet nature of ending the show on TNT, Stephen A. shares his positive outlook on the future:

"I'm so happy Saturday night that they sounded off the way that they did. Pay homage to all the people that they worked with, all the lives that they touched."
[02:50]

He commends the hosts for their professionalism and dedication, even during their final broadcast on TNT:

"As Shaq said and even Kenny Smith said, for the purposes of their last show, they cussed. They said we ain't, we ain't fucking around. We coming to do our thing. Yeah. And we can't wait."
[03:45]

4. Assurance to the Fanbase

Understanding the passion of the Inside the NBA fanbase, Stephen A. seeks to reassure listeners that the essence of the show will remain consistent:

"What you've been seeing is what you're going to get, if not better. As Shaq said... It's their show that is what we are bringing to ESPN."
[03:30]

He emphasizes that the move to ESPN is merely a change in the broadcasting channel, not in the content or delivery of the show:

"It's just going to air on the channel. But what you've been seeing is what you're going to get. So don't think it's going to be any different."
[04:00]

5. Collaborative Future at ESPN

Highlighting the collaborative relationship between ESPN and the show's creators, Stephen A. expresses his confidence in the smooth transition:

"Honored to have them as colleagues at ESPN. Honored. But I've known them for many, many years myself."
[03:55]

He acknowledges that while the show will have new opportunities, the foundational relationships and support within ESPN will bolster its continued success:

"Big perk and everybody else included. Whenever they need us, we'll be there. When they don't need us, they don't need us. It's just that simple."
[04:10]

6. Looking Ahead: Optimism for the Future

Concluding his analysis, Stephen A. conveys optimism about the show's new chapter on ESPN, anticipating that it will maintain its status as the premier basketball show on television:

"We can't wait for them to air their show on ESPN. But what you've been seeing is what you're going to get."
[04:05]

He reassures fans that the transition will uphold the high standards and engaging dynamics that have made Inside the NBA a staple in basketball entertainment for decades.

Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith offers a heartfelt and insightful perspective on the migration of Inside the NBA from TNT to ESPN. By addressing both the emotional and logistical facets of this move, he provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of what this transition entails. His assurance that the beloved elements of the show will remain unchanged serves to comfort the dedicated fanbase, while his enthusiasm for the show's future on ESPN underscores a positive outlook for continued excellence in basketball broadcasting.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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VGW Group Void. We're prohibited by law. 21 plus terms and conditions apply. I got to get to another story that made headlines throughout the season that came to an epic conclusion on Saturday night in Indianapolis. And that's the NBA basketball on tnt. Inside the NBA on tnt. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenn Smith and Shaquille o' Neal. Shaq Diesel, along with the live event team broadcast their final game Saturday on TNT. It was the end of a 35 year run of basketball on the NT on TNT. However, inside the NBA will carry on next season with espn. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro came up with the idea to obtain the rights to Inside the NBA and put it on the air as is. So next season and going forward, Inside the NBA will continue to be produced by TNT Sports. And listen, I get the nostalgia, I get the affection that you have for tnt. Listen, they're an institution. We love Ernie Johnson, he's the institution and the fellas are the fellas. But I was so happy Saturday night that they sounded off the way that they did. Pay homage to all the people that they worked with, all the lives that they touched. It's been the best basketball show on television. There is no debate about that. These guys are phenomenal. All of them are friends of mine. So I couldn't be happier that they're coming over to espn. But it is important to note that they're coming over to espn. Just the channel, the same crew, the same production team, the same studio they do it from. The show is theirs. It's Just going to a on ESPN instead of tnt. And so while everybody was quick to write the epitaph of the show on TNT is the big deal for them because they had, in Ernie Johnson's case, a damn near 40 year relationship with them. I understand that. But please know that if you're the fan base, what you've been seeing from them is what you're going to get. ESPN ain't changing them. They can't change them. Same production team, same studio in Atlanta, same personnel, same producers. It's their show that is what we are bringing to espn. It's just going to air on the channel. But what you've been seeing is what you're going to get, if not better. As Shaq said and even Kenny Smith said, for the purposes of their last show, they cussed. They said we ain't, we ain't fucking around. We coming to do our thing. Yeah. And we can't wait. Honored to have them as colleagues at espn. Honored. But I've known them for many, many years myself. Big perk and everybody else included. Whenever they need us, we'll be there. When they don't need us, they don't need us. It's just that simple. We all got other jobs to do. Can't wait for them to air their show on espn. But what you've been seeing is what you're going to get. So don't think it's going to be any different.