The NBA on TNT wrapped up its final season carrying NBA basketball games this past Saturday as the Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. With the final game came the last episode of Inside the NBA featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal for the season. Meanwhile, reaction continues to build regarding what will come next for the program as it moves to ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, albeit the show will still be created and produced by TNT Sports.
In an emotional sign-off for the season, several members of the program shared their thanks to the viewing audience as they signed off from TNT Sports for one final time. However, Shan Shariff, co-host of Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, didn’t understand all the hoopla surrounding the final moments of Inside the NBA this past Saturday night.
“No one has loved or defended Inside the NBA on this radio station more than me, but I’m sitting there watching, and I’m saying. Same crew, same studio, same production. A little bit too much hoopla here for this. This isn’t a goodbye. You’re changing the logo,” stated Shariff.
Furthermore, Shariff continued by saying that the goodbyes were just for host Ernie Johnson and his bosses, while fans shouldn’t expect anything to change with the program outside its destination to watch it. He further explained that he didn’t feel sad at all because the show itself isn’t breaking up.
“I just thought it was a little bit too much with a pomp and circumstance when we’re getting the exact same thing,” said Shariff. “No one cares about TNT. No one gives a crap.”
After 36 years as a U.S. rightsholder, TNT Sports will nevertheless continue to distribute the award-winning studio under a sublicensing deal with The Walt Disney Company. Additionally, the NBA signed 11-year media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC), Comcast Corporation (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon (Prime Video) reportedly worth a collective $77 billion this past summer.
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