It’s the end of an era—but not the end of the ride. Definitely one of those good news – bad news situations. Or…maybe not. Sure, the clock on “Inside the NBA” is winding down, but a new game seems to be waiting in the wings. Shaq’s certainly on board with that…
As the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers heat up, so does the conversation around the future of Inside the NBA. With TNT officially wrapping up its NBA coverage after the 2025 season, fans have been bracing for a major shake-up. But Shaquille O’Neal wants everyone to know one thing loud and clear: this crew isn’t going anywhere.
Following what could have been their final pregame show on TNT ahead of Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, Shaq took a moment to hype up what’s coming next. And in true Shaq fashion, it wasn’t quiet.
“Yes, it is the ending of Inside the NBA on TNT,” he said. “But it’s the new beginning for us. I’m glad we’re still together on whatever network we go to, and whatever network we comin’ to, we’re bringing the pain. I’m just letting you know right now… You can never kill the four horsemen.”
That rally cry sent co-host Kenny Smith nearly flying out of his chair, shouting, “I’m ready to go right now!” Charles Barkley grinned. Ernie Johnson stayed cool and classy, as always. The chemistry? Still electric. The future? Looking just fine.
While the NBA is moving to NBC Sports and Peacock this fall, the Inside the NBA crew—O’Neal, Smith, Barkley, and Johnson—hasn’t announced an official landing spot just yet. But it’s clear that they’re not retiring their mics or their signature brand of hilarious, unfiltered basketball commentary.
“There’s an old saying—when something passes, something is reborn,” O’Neal said before Thursday’s Game 5. “The show is still here, baby. We coming and we coming to take spots. We coming to kick and we coming to take names and we doing it our way.”
That’s peak Diesel energy right there.
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Over the past two decades, Inside the NBA has become more than just a pregame show—it’s become a cultural phenomenon. It’s where basketball meets barbershop banter, where legendary highlights share airtime with wildly entertaining moments like Barkley racing Smith to the big board or Shaq tripping over cables and crashing to the floor (we’ll never forget that one).
No matter where the crew ends up, fans can breathe a sigh of relief: this isn’t a breakup. It’s a rebrand.
And if Shaq’s words are anything to go by, the next chapter of Inside the NBA might be even wilder, louder, and more legendary than the last.
The four horsemen are riding again.