As NBC and Amazon Prime Video finalize massive new NBA broadcast rights agreements, executives at the two media companies are already eyeing broadcasting talent when they begin airing NBA games in the fall of 2025.
According to new reporting from Dylan Byers of Puck News, in addition to existing talent at NBC like Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle and Zora Stephenson, NBC is expected to pursue sideline reporter Allie LaForce from TNT Sports in addition to top game analysts like Draymond Green or Grant Hill as well as the Inside the NBA panel.
However, Byers confirmed that host Ernie Johnson is expected to remain at Warner Bros. Discovery. At the same time, Kenny Smith could be “collateral damage” of Inside‘s departure from TNT, given his smaller profile compared with more recently retired NBA athletes who could replace him alongside Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal at a new network.
Barkley is reportedly expected to make at least $15 million on a new contract due to the high level of interest in his talents should he leave WBD, while O’Neal could command eight figures himself. Byers highlighted the history between Barkley and NBC chair Mark Lazarus, who brought Barkley to TNT originally in the 1990s, as a key factor in Chuck’s eventual landing place.
“If Barkley jumps ship, the rival networks will likely court Shaq as well, in the hopes of bringing the duo over collectively,” Byers wrote.
Byers also reported that as NBC maps out its talent roster, NFL and Olympics anchor Maria Taylor “is not universally loved inside NBC Sports” and could be on her way out. Taylor joined NBC in 2021 after an ugly divorce from the worldwide leader, with NBC reportedly topping ESPN’s $3 million annual offer to lure her away for Football Night In America and other high-profile assignments.
Meanwhile, Prime Video is rumored to want Ian Eagle, who it also sees as a potential replacement for Al Michaels on Thursday Night Football when Michaels eventually retires, as well as Kevin Harlan. Eagle is currently the voice of the NCAA men’s Final Four at CBS and WBD, in addition to calling the NFL for CBS and being the No. 2 NBA voice behind Harlan at TNT Sports.
Since Prime Video has no basketball rights as of now, unlike NBC, it will have the most work to do to fill out a roster. As a streamer, Prime Video also has more flexibility and time to fill with studio and shoulder programming.
Attention has been focused on the future of Inside the NBA as TNT’s hold on NBA broadcast rights loosens, but the change would represent a massive change in sports media, with effects going far beyond the NBA.
