Inside the NBA on TNT Sports has been a basketball staple since 1989.
But with the broadcaster excluded from the league’s latest mammoth TV rights deal, we are fast approaching the end of an era.
The Inside the NBA crew is on an emotional farewell tourTNT SportsErnie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal are all returning for the 2025 season on ESPN and ABC.
But there is still a sense of a monumental loss as the playoffs bring this version of the iconic show to a close.
The crew marked the occasion by producing championship-style rings for the beloved hosts, with a montage revealing the inspiration for the designs on Wednesday.
It began with four-time NBA champion Shaq poking fun at Barkley for having zero rings.
Despite a Hall of Fame career, Chuck is the only one of the three former pros with empty fingers as Smith won back-to-back chips in 1994 and 1995.
Fans were quick to joins in with the dig, having some fun at Barkley’s expense.
“Charles first ring lol,” wrote one on X.
“Chuckster finally getting a ring,” added a second.
“Now the only ring Chuck has won’t be from his pager,” joked a third.
“We will definitely miss this one. Last dance of Inside the NBA on TNT,” another wrote in a sentiment shared by many.
The Inside the NBA crew are on an emotional farewell tourTNT Sports Fans poked fun at his NBA Finals recordGETTYBarkley went to the Philadelphia 76ers with the fifth overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft and went on to have a stories career.
The 11-time All-Star was named MVP in 1993 and had his No.34 jersey retired by the 76ers and Phoenix Suns.
His MVP crown came in the season he led Phoenix to its first NBA Finals since 1976.
“I believe it is our destiny to win the world championship,” he said after going 3-1 down to the Chicago Bulls. “I have believed that for the last year, and I believe in my heart that we’re going to win the world championship, and I told you that I don’t care about being down 3-1.”
Unfortunately, fate was on the Bulls’ side as Michael Jordan secured the first of two three-peats that sealed his iconic dynasty’s place in the history books.
Barkley will ultimately be remembered as one of the greatest players never to win an NBA Finals.
But he is also creating a new legacy as a popular broadcaster and has been a vocal critic of the decision to exclude TNT from the latest media rights deal after streaming giant Amazon muscled in.
“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” he said in July.
“TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future.
“The NBA didn’t want to p*** them off. It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.
“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years.
“They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans — the best fans in sports.”
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