If anyone had worries that the “Inside the NBA” move to ESPN would change the show at all, they can put that to bed.
Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal returned to the airwaves for the beloved NBA studio show on Wednesday night as the Worldwide Leader opened its 2025-26 slate of games.
And while there had been some concern that the show’s move to the Disney-owned sports network would mean unwelcome changes, the four seemed to bring the same energy and humor that made up the program’s 36-year run on TNT.
Almost immediately after Johnson made his way through his intro, O’Neal interjected that he “didn’t do it right” and that he should have said “this is T-R-O-N.”
“The real opening night,” O’Neal said, explaining his acronym and leading to laughs from the others. “That stuff yesterday. No, no, no. The boys are back in town. This is the real opening night, yesterday was still preseason.”
O’Neal was referring to the NBA’s return to NBC, which broadcast Tuesday’s national slate to open the 2025-26 season.
In another highlight of “Inside the NBA’s” first show on ESPN, producers ran a montage of Barkley joking about the move to the network before he said on air that he was “nervous all day” ahead of the first show.
“Every person who’s ever touched the ball wanted to be on ESPN. They are the greatest sports network ever, and to be working for these guys is an honor and a privilege,” he continued.
“Do you want a napkin for all that kissing up you just did?” Smith jokingly told Barkley at one point.
A photoshopped image was also flashed on the screen of Barkley kissing a donkey’s rear end, which had the ESPN name on it.
“Inside the NBA” moved to ESPN as part of a licensing agreement that keeps production duties with TNT Sports and allows the Worldwide Leader to broadcast the show. However, if the opening show is any indication, the only major change is the channel on which it’s airing.
