Kenny Smith Gets Real About The Future Of ‘Inside The NBA’ And The Importance Of Charles Barkley Staying With TNT

Kenny Smith shares Inside The NBA's legacy

Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley (Image Credit: Getty Images)
With Warner Bros. Discovery losing out on NBA broadcasting rights, concerns have emerged about the future of the beloved ‘Inside the NBA’ show. Fans have been particularly worried about the fate of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson—the award-winning group that has become a staple of basketball commentary.

After announcing his retirement from broadcasting, Charles Barkley took a U-turn and confirmed that he would continue his career with TNT. However, the upcoming 2024-25 season may still be the last time fans see this iconic team together on ‘Inside the NBA‘. In a recent interview with USA Today Sports, Kenny Smith reflected on the show’s legacy and its impact beyond just basketball.

“We’re the only show that started talking about social injustice. We’re the only basketball show that started talking about pop culture, we’re the only basketball show that talked about fashion, really,” Smith said.


“We were part of that. So, to give up that voice when people need to hear it, I would have thought it would be a disservice,” he added.

Charles Barkley Discusses the Uncertain Future of ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT

With TNT planning to continue Inside the NBA despite losing NBA broadcasting rights, many questions have arisen about what the future holds for the show. Charles Barkley recently joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss the situation and what might come next.

“They said, ‘We’re gonna continued doing the show. I don’t have any idea what that means. I think they’re gonna try to figure it out. We won’t have the NBA, so I think they’re gonna try to figure it out,” Barkley said.

“But my number one concern has always been the people at Turner. Even if we do something, a lot of people at Turner are going to keep their jobs. Like I said, Dan, I have zero idea what we’re gonna do,” he added.

Since retiring from the NBA, Barkley has become a beloved figure on TNT. The fans now wonder how the iconic show will adapt without its traditional NBA coverage