While we’ve known since November that the future of Inside the NBA will see TNT Sports lease the popular studio show to ESPN, there’s still been plenty of uncertainty regarding the show’s cast. But according to a new report, at least two of the Warner Bros. Discovery property’s stars aren’t going anywhere, with CNBC’s Alex Sherman revealing in his Thursday newsletter that Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith are both set to re-sign with TNT Sports.
Per the report, O’Neal’s new contract with the company will be for five years, while Smith’s new deal is described as “multiyear.” O’Neal’s current contract with TNT Sports is reportedly scheduled to expire this year, leading to some speculation that the Hall of Fame center could take his talents elsewhere — especially with NBC and Amazon set to become NBA media rights partners beginning with the 2025-26 season.
According to Sherman, both O’Neal and Smith did, in fact, have discussions with NBC and Amazon before opting to re-sign with TNT Sports. Unlike O’Neal, Smith wasn’t scheduled to become a free agent, but did have a clause in his contract giving him flexibility in the event that Warner Bros. Discovery lost its NBA rights, as it did during the negotiations for the deal that will go into effect next season.
As for the show’s third — and most high profile — analyst, Charles Barkley’s situation remains murky. Sherman’s report notes that the Hall of Fame power forward’s contract doesn’t possess the same clause that Smith’s does, although that hasn’t stopped Barkley from publicly speculating about his future and openly stating that he’s had discussions with NBC and Amazon.
As it became clear that TNT was losing its NBA rights, the 1993 NBA MVP initially announced his plans to retire, only to backtrack and publicly reaffirm his commitment to WBD and Inside the NBA. But while it remains unclear whether Barkley will ultimately make good on that pledge, we now know that if he does return, he’ll be doing so alongside O’Neal and Smith.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.