Official announcements from ESPN, ABC, or Shaquille O'Neal's representatives

NBA and WBD Settle Lawsuit; 'Inside the NBA' with Barkley to Air on ESPN Starting 2025

Nov 18, 2024, 02:00 PM

The NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have settled their lawsuit, resulting in an agreement that will see the popular studio show "Inside the NBA" licensed to ESPN and ABC starting with the 2025-2026 season. The show, featuring Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal, will handle pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage for the NBA Finals, playoffs, Christmas Day games, opening week, all ABC games after January 1, and other marquee events. Despite airing on ESPN and ABC, "Inside the NBA" will continue to be produced by TNT Sports from Atlanta, and the crew will remain TNT employees. ESPN will continue to air its own "NBA Countdown" show alongside "Inside the NBA." Shaquille O'Neal is reportedly not yet under contract for the transition and has expressed frustration over the situation. As part of the settlement, WBD will receive rights to Big 12 football and basketball games and international rights in parts of Northern Europe and Latin America. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised the deal, calling it "a huge win for basketball fans everywhere."