After nearly four decades as the home for some of the NBA’s most memorable broadcasts, TNT has aired its final NBA game—and the legendary “Inside the NBA” studio show has signed off from the network in an emotional farewell that left fans and cast members reflecting on a historic run.
The end comes as the NBA finalizes a new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. As a result, TNT will no longer broadcast NBA games starting with the 2025-26 season. The final game on TNT was Game of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.
Host Ernie Johnson, visibly moved, delivered a heartfelt sign-off: “Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,” before placing his microphone on the desk and walking away from the set for the last time The beloved crew—Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley—will remain together, but “Inside the NBA” will now be seen on ESPN and ABC, produced by TNT Sports from their Atlanta studios.
Despite the change in networks, the show’s chemistry and format are expected to stay largely intact, with the core team continuing to bring humor and expert analysis to basketball fans. Charles Barkley has hinted that the group may not appear as frequently on ESPN as some fans expect, and there’s even talk of a new TNT project featuring the same personalities.
The transition marks the end of an era for NBA broadcasting, but the future of “Inside the NBA” looks bright—and fans are eager to see what the next chapter holds for one of sports television’s most iconic shows.
