The ‘NBA Tip-Off’ premiere begins with a good dig at ESPN
The band is back together, although they never broke up.
Did you leave? certainly. The crew that comprises “Inside the NBA” moved from TNT when the cable network lost the NBA broadcast rights to ESPN, NBC and Amazon after last season.
But a group that is somehow greater than the sum of its star-studded parts is still going — albeit now under the title of “NBA Tip-Off.”
The familiar lineup of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson reunited for the pregame show ahead of ESPN’s doubleheader on Wednesday, as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs visit the Dallas Mavericks.
They made fun of themselves and the world leader. Any fears that ESPN’s suits would dilute the fun and often funny dynamic the quartet brought to the last decade of the 36-year “Inside the NBA” series were dispelled.
O’Neal opened his speech by admonishing Johnson for mentioning Tuesday night’s NBA openers, which were broadcast on NBC and the streaming service Peacock.
“You’re supposed to say, ‘This is Tron — the real opening night,’” O’Neill said with a laugh. “Don’t forget who we are, boys.”
Johnson responded gently, “Don’t be that way!” For more laughs.
O’Neal said Smith was almost late for the show. “I haven’t been nervous since Game 7 of the NBA Finals,” Smith said.
Barkley, who was one of the most skeptical about leaving TNT for ESPN, supported this view, saying “I was nervous all day.” But before he could continue in a more serious manner, Johnson interrupted and was shown clips of Barkley expressing doubts about ESPN on the “Dan Patrick Show” and other outlets.
More laughter ensued, though Barkley did his best to toe the company line, saying, “I’m not going to lie. Everyone who’s ever touched a ball has wanted to be on ESPN. It’s the greatest sports network ever. Working with these guys is an honor and a privilege.”
Johnson echoed Barkley, saying: “It’s a dream come true,” and asked Smith if he felt the same way. Smith sighed and replied, “I’ll say yes, but do you all want a handkerchief for all this kissing?”
The laughs continued when an earlier clip of Barkley expressing concern about his workload at ESPN was followed by a graphic showing his work “schedule” on Thursday, which included appearances at every hour of the day, including during World Ax Throwing League and American Cornhole League broadcasts.
Eventually, the basketball analysis followed the jokes and jabs, as O’Neal made a rather bold prediction regarding former Lakers great Anthony Davis, who is often plagued by injuries, now playing in Dallas: “If AD plays 65 games, the Dallas Mavericks will be in the Western Conference Finals.”
“NBA Tip-Off” is set to air pregame, halftime and postgame segments during Wednesday’s doubleheader, and ESPN announced It will air for 20 days during the regular season around games broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
The formats will be different on each network. Pregame shows on ESPN will begin an hour before the tip-off show and postgame shows immediately after the final horn. ABC’s pregame shows will begin 30 minutes before tipoff. With post-game shows airing only after Saturday prime time games. ABC’s NBA Sunday Showcase series will also feature an “NBA Tip-Off” pregame show.
“We are proud that Inside the NBA — one of the most popular and beloved shows in all of media — will play a leading role in our NBA coverage,” Burke Magnus, ESPN’s chief content officer, said in a statement two weeks ago. “Fans should expect the same great show they’re accustomed to seeing as it becomes a key part of NBA highlights, including the NBA Finals.”
There was talk a few months ago about the possibility of TNT producing a spin-off show with the same cast, as this season’s “NBA Tip-Off” will continue to be produced at TNT Studios in Atlanta. Barkley seemed to put the kibosh on that idea when he said the TNT-taped pilot was “just stupid stuff.”
“Number one, we won’t have basketball highlights [on TNT]”But also, we’ll probably have an NBA game,” Barkley said in June. And anyone who loves basketball isn’t going to say, “Hey, you know what?” Let me turn off an NBA game on Amazon, ESPN, or NBC to watch these four guys sit around and talk about nothing.
Instead, the quartet will continue to talk the talk and trade, but only on ESPN and ABC.
“Inside the NBA” 2025-26 Regular Season broadcast table
2025
October 22: ESPN and ESPN2
October 23: ESPN
October 29: ESPN
November 12: ESPN
December 25: ESPN and ABC
2026
January 24: ABC
January 28: ESPN
January 31: ABC
February 7: ABC
February 20: ESPN
February 21: ABC
February 22: ABC
February 27: ESPN
February 28: ABC
March 1: ABC
March 6: ESPN
March 7: ABC
March 8: ABC
March 14: ABC
April 12: ESPN