The band is again collectively, though they by no means actually parted.
Departed? Certain. The crew that comprised “Contained in the NBA” moved from TNT when the cable community misplaced its NBA broadcast rights to ESPN, NBC and Amazon after final season.
However the ensemble that someway is bigger than the sum of its star-studded elements continues — albeit now beneath the title “NBA Tip-Off.”
The acquainted lineup of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson reunited for a pregame present forward of ESPN’s doubleheader Wednesday, with the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs visiting the Dallas Mavericks.
They usually poked enjoyable at themselves and on the Worldwide Chief. Any fears that ESPN fits would tone down the rollicking, typically hilarious dynamic the quartet delivered to the final decade-plus of the 36-year “Contained in the NBA” run had been rapidly doused.
O’Neal opened by admonishing Johnson for mentioning the NBA‘s opening video games Tuesday night time, which broadcast on NBC and the Peacock streaming service.
“You’re presupposed to say, that is TRON — the actual opening night time,” O’Neal stated to laughs. “Don’t neglect who we’re, boys.”
Johnson gently pushed again, replying, “Don’t be that method!” to extra laughs.
O’Neal stated Smith was virtually late for the present, and Smith stated, “I haven’t been that nervous since Sport 7 of the NBA Finals.”
Barkley, who had been essentially the most vocal skeptic of leaving TNT for ESPN, seconded that sentiment, saying “I used to be nervous all day.” However earlier than he may proceed in a extra critical vein, Johnson interrupted and clips had been proven of Barkley expressing doubts about ESPN on the “Dan Patrick Present” and different shops.
Extra laughs ensued, though Barkley did his finest to toe the corporate line, saying, “I’m not gonna lie. Each one who ever touched a ball needed to be on ESPN. They’re the best sports activities community ever. And to be working with these guys is an honor and a privilege.”
Johnson echoed Barkley, saying, “It’s a dream come true,” and requested Smith if he felt the identical method. Smith sighed and replied, “I’ll reply sure, however do you all desire a serviette for all that kissing up?”
The laughs continued when a clip of Barkley earlier expressing fear in regards to the workload at ESPN was adopted by a graphic that displayed his Thursday work “schedule,” which included appearances each hour of the day, together with throughout broadcasts of World Axe Throwing League and the American Cornhole League.
Basketball evaluation did finally comply with the jokes and jabs, with O’Neal making a somewhat-bold prediction relating to oft-injured former Lakers huge man Anthony Davis, who now performs in Dallas: “If A.D. performs 65 video games, the Dallas Mavericks will likely be within the Western Convention finals.”
“NBA Tip-Off” was set to air segments pregame, halftime and postgame throughout Wednesday’s doubleheader, and ESPN introduced it’s going to air 20 days through the common season round video games broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
Codecs will likely be completely different on every community. Pregame reveals on ESPN will start an hour earlier than tipoff and postgame reveals will begin proper after the ultimate horn. Pregame reveals on ABC will start half-hour earlier than tipoff. with postgame reveals airing solely after Saturday prime-time video games. The NBA Sunday Showcase sequence on ABC additionally will characteristic an “NBA Tip-Off” pregame present.
“We’re proud that ‘Contained in the NBA’ — one of the crucial iconic and beloved reveals in all of media — will play a number one position in our NBA protection,” ESPN president of content material Burke Magnus stated in a press release two weeks in the past. “Followers ought to anticipate the identical nice present they’re accustomed to watching because it turns into a vital a part of the highest-profile occasions within the NBA, together with the NBA Finals.”
There was speak a couple of months in the past that TNT may produce a separate present with the identical solid, since this season’s “NBA Tip-Off” will proceed to be produced in TNT’s Atlanta studios. Barkley seemingly put the kibosh on that notion when he stated a pilot TNT taped was “simply silly stuff.”
“Primary, we received’t have basketball highlights [on TNT],” Barkley stated in June. “But in addition, we’re most likely gonna be going up in opposition to an NBA recreation. And anyone who likes basketball ain’t gonna say, ‘Hey, you recognize what? Let me flip off an NBA recreation on Amazon, ESPN or NBC to go watch these 4 dudes sit round and speak about nothing.’”
As a substitute, the quartet will proceed to speak hoops and commerce zingers, however solely on ESPN and ABC.
“Contained in the NBA” 2025-26 common season broadcast schedule
2025
Oct. 22: ESPN and ESPN2
Oct. 23: ESPN
Oct. 29: ESPN
Nov. 12: ESPN
Dec. 25: ESPN and ABC
2026
Jan. 24: ABC
Jan. 28: ESPN
Jan. 31: ABC
Feb. 7: ABC
Feb. 20: ESPN
Feb. 21: ABC
Feb. 22: ABC
Feb. 27: ESPN
Feb. 28: ABC
March 1: ABC
March 6: ESPN
March 7: ABC
March 8: ABC
March 14: ABC
April 12: ESPN
