Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal anticipates ESPN will broadcast the hit pre-game show Inside the NBA more often during its second season, responding to strong fan demand for additional episodes.
Transition to ESPN and Fan Feedback
O’Neal shared these insights ahead of the March Madness national championship in Indianapolis. The show, now on ESPN after years on TNT, features the same core team—O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith—but has aired only 19 times this regular season, compared to every Tuesday and Thursday previously.
“It’s pretty much the same crew, same areas, just different networks,” O’Neal stated. “Charles was complaining about us not being on, but I’d rather not be in during the regular season. Now is when the people need to hear us, and once playoffs start, you will definitely see us and we will definitely dominate the airwaves.”
Fans have voiced frustration over the reduced schedule. “The feedback is they don’t get to see us a lot,” O’Neal noted. “So I’m sure ESPN is gonna make some adjustments, and we’ll definitely be on more next year. But through playoffs, I think the playoffs start in a couple weeks, you will definitely see us.”
Family Pride and Promotions in Indianapolis
In Indianapolis for the Final Four, O’Neal promoted his new candy line, Shaq-A-Licious Slams, in partnership with Hershey. He also hosted an episode of his podcast, The Big Podcast.
His son, Shaqir O’Neal, a senior from Sacramento State, competed in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Shaqir claimed victory in the dunk contest with impressive acrobatic displays.
“I’m proud of him,” O’Neal said. “I always trust my kids when people pay to see them run the show. I know he made every dunk. And I don’t know why the other kids were missing four or five dunks, but you can’t expect to win a contest and get fans by missing four or five dunks. So I was impressed with the dunks he picked.”
New Dunking League Announcement
O’Neal, renowned for his own dunking prowess during his NBA career, unveiled plans for DUNKMAN, a professional dunking league he founded and will lead as commissioner.
The league features 24 athletes in a round-robin format, culminating in a world championship and a $500,000 grand prize. “These athletes are innovators and DUNKMAN is going to give them a global stage, real stakes, and a chance to build careers doing what they love,” O’Neal declared. “We are transforming dunking from a one-night contest to the fastest growing professional sport off two feet.”
