Emotional Shaq fires warning to ESPN as Inside the NBA co-host fights back tears

Jamie Gordon, US Sports Writer
Published: 10:55, 1 Jun 2025
Updated: 10:55, 1 Jun 2025

Inside the NBA signed off from TNT Sports in a wave of emotion.

The beloved show is leaving the network after Amazon muscled in on the latest $77 billion TV rights package to leave the traditional broadcaster on the bench.

Ernie Johnson choked up as he brought Inside the NBA on TNT to a close

A deal has been struck that will see the cast return on ESPN, but that didn’t stop Shaquille O’Neal and his fellow hosts from milking every second of Saturday’s final broadcast.

A New York Knicks’ defeat sealed the Indiana Pacers‘ spot in the NBA Finals and brought 35 years of history to a close.

Analysts Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce bid farewell after the Eastern Conference trophy presentation.

The feed then cut to the studio, where Shaq, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith did their traditional Gone Fishin’ segment to mark their exit from TNT.

“We’ve come to the end of the road here with the NBA on TNT,” Johnson said.

“Even though the name changes, the engine stays the same,” O’Neal added.

“To that new network we’re coming to [ESPN], we’re not coming to ‘F’ around.

“And since it’s the last show, I’ll say it: We’re not coming to f*** around. We’re kicking ass, we’re taking names, we’re taking over.”

Smith dropped his own F-bomb as fans chanted ‘TNT! TNT! TNT.’

Johnson was visibly choking up as he signed off.

Shaq is not going to take any prisoners on ESPN

“Thanks for watching us. It’s been the NBA on TNT.” pic.twitter.com/6OulhnyL49

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“If I had written the script, the NBA and TNT would have been together forever,” Johnson said. “It’s not going to happen.”

O’Neal and Smith dropped their mics, and the four hosts hugged each other before walking off the TNT set for the final time.

Fans jumped into the replies on social media to pay tribute to the cast.

“The best on TV and there isn’t anyone else close,” wrote one.

“Dude, the water works have already started. I love the show and some of the best things to come out from the NBA came from the show,” added a second.

“You guys will forever be the greatest of all time,” wrote a third.

NBA’s Greatest

“Nahh it’s never going to be the same on espn,” bemoaned another.

ESPN acquired the rights to Inside the NBA in exchange for a selection of Big 12 football and men’s college basketball games.

Fans are worried ESPN’s outspoken style — which Barkley has attacked several times — could impact the show, but the network insists it will not be meddling.

“TNT Sports will continue to independently produce Inside the NBA from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement,” ESPN said in Novemver.

“I don’t think that’s gonna happen,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand told The Dan Patrick Show after the deal was struck — pointing to Pat McAfee‘s freedom to do as he pleases.

“I think that’s the [ESPN chairperson James] Pitaro playbook.

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“If I’m a producer there, I’m kind of saying, if I’m in Bristol, ‘What are we doing? We can’t get this right. The big boss keeps outsourcing our programming. That’s not a good sign.’