As the NBA enters a bold new media era with fresh partnerships on NBC and Prime Video, one thing remains constant — Shaquille O’Neal believes Inside the NBA is still the best show in the game.
The legendary studio crew — O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, and Ernie Johnson — recently made the jump to ESPN after 13 years on TNT, where the show became a cultural phenomenon. Known for its unscripted humor, honest opinions, and unforgettable chemistry, Inside the NBA has long been the gold standard for sports talk television. And according to Shaq, that isn’t changing anytime soon.
O’Neal joined The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN Radio Friday afternoon to discuss the new chapter. He made it clear that ESPN executives have been smart enough not to mess with success.
“The ESPN executives did a great job when they came and met with us,” Shaq said. “They said, ‘We’re not gonna bother you.’ And I said, ‘What about when Chuck talks about San Antonio women?’ They said, ‘We’ll deal with that when it happens, but we’re not gonna micromanage you guys. It’s gonna be the same show.’”
That reassurance was all Shaq needed to hear. “Shout out to all the guys at TNT that fought for keeping it the same,” he added. “’Cause I’m looking at all the other shows — they’re not even close. You can’t say it, but I can.”
A Legendary Run
Shaq’s confidence comes with good reason. Inside the NBA has been the most influential studio show in basketball — and arguably all of sports — since its early TNT days in the 1990s. Under host Ernie Johnson’s steady guidance, Barkley’s unfiltered takes, Smith’s insightful breakdowns, and O’Neal’s comedic timing, the show became appointment viewing.
Over the years, the team has won multiple Emmy Awards and even inspired viral moments that crossed over into pop culture — from the famous “Shaqtin’ A Fool” blooper reels to Barkley’s legendary on-air rants.
Their playful clashes and real friendship gave fans something deeper than analysis — it felt like sitting on the couch with old friends who happen to be basketball legends.
New Rivals, Same Swagger
While NBC’s NBA Showtime lineup includes Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady, and Prime Video has assembled Taylor Rooks, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Blake Griffin, and Udonis Haslem, Shaq isn’t sweating the competition.
For him, Inside the NBA is more than a broadcast — it’s a family and a tradition that can’t be replicated.
“As popular as those other shows might be, we’re still the original,” O’Neal said. “We’re not changing who we are. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The new “Inside the NBA” is off and running on ESPN — and if Shaq’s confidence is any indication, basketball fans will still be laughing, debating, and tuning in just like always.