Get ready, basketball fans — the legendary crew from Inside the NBA is on the move… sort of. Starting with the 2025-26 NBA season, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith will be sliding into ESPN’s world. But don’t worry — the Inside the NBA vibe isn’t going anywhere. The show will still be produced by TNT, just airing on ESPN platforms as part of a wild new media shuffle.
So yes, technically, Shaq and Chuck are about to be on ESPN. But don’t expect them to be popping up on SportsCenter or arguing on First Take. In fact, the thought of that alone might give them hives.
Longtime ESPN executive John Skipper recently opened up on Pablo Torre’s podcast, sharing how he tried for years to lure Barkley and Shaq away from Turner Sports. His plan? Make them stars at ESPN. His problem? They both wanted no part of the ESPN “carwash” — the nickname for all the appearances, rehearsals, and tightly-scripted segments ESPN personalities go through on a daily basis.
“Charles Barkley said, ‘I’m not doing SportsCenter. Nobody is gonna tell me what to do,’” Skipper recalled. And Shaq? Even less interested. “He said, ‘Why would I do that? You were gonna put me on SportsCenter. I just want to show up and talk,’” Skipper admitted.
Can you blame them?
The magic of Inside the NBA is the chaos, the comedy, the off-the-cuff banter, and the occasional Kenny Smith sprint to the video board. It’s a show that’s part sports, part sitcom, and part barbershop. Putting Shaq and Chuck in the buttoned-up, teleprompter-heavy world of ESPN’s typical lineup would be like asking DJ Diesel to spin classical music. Just… no.
Shaq has said it himself: his “worst day at Turner would be a good day,” while his “worst day at ESPN would get me fired.” That pretty much sums it up.
Now, as this move becomes reality, both Shaq and Barkley have made it clear they’re only along for the ride if Inside the NBA remains Inside the NBA — same vibe, same crew, no ESPN micromanaging. And thankfully, TNT will still be producing the show, even if it’s airing on a different network.
As for Shaq, he’s still thriving in the studio… when he’s not off running his businesses, DJing festivals as DJ Diesel, or working toward becoming “Professor O’Neal” after finishing his studies at Alabama State University. Busy man!
So while this ESPN move might sound dramatic, rest easy. You won’t see Shaq breaking down highlights on the 6 a.m. SportsCenter anytime soon. He’ll still be doing what he does best — cracking jokes, making bold playoff predictions, and giving Chuck grief whenever possible.
And that’s exactly how we like it.