Espn Premiere Of 'inside The Nba,' Er, 'nba Tip-off' Starts With Good-natured Digs At The Worldwide Leader - Beritaja

The set is backmost together, moreover though they ne'er really parted.

Departed? Sure. The unit that comprised “Inside the NBA” moved from TNT erstwhile the cablegram web lost its NBA broadcast rights to ESPN, NBC and Amazon aft past season.

But the ensemble that someway is greater than the sum of its star-studded parts continues — albeit now nether the title, “NBA Tip-Off.”

The acquainted lineup of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson reunited for a pregame show up of ESPN’s doubleheader Wednesday, pinch the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs visiting the Dallas Mavericks.

And they poked nosy astatine themselves and astatine the Worldwide Leader. Any fears that ESPN suits would reside down the rollicking, often hilarious move the quartet brought to the past decade-plus of the 36-year “Inside the NBA” tally were quickly doused.

O’Neal opened by admonishing Johnson for mentioning the NBA‘s opening games Tuesday night, which broadcast connected NBC and the Peacock streaming service.

“You are expected to say, this is TRON — the existent opening night,” O’Neal said to laughs. “Don’t hide who we are, boys.”

Johnson mildly pushed back, replying, “Don’t beryllium that way!” to much laughs.

O’Neal said Smith was almost precocious for the show, and Smith said, “I haven’t been that tense since Game 7 of the NBA Finals.”

Barkley, who had been the about vocal skeptic of leaving TNT for ESPN, seconded that sentiment, saying “I was tense each day.” But earlier he could proceed successful a much superior vein, Johnson interrupted and clips were shown of Barkley expressing doubts about ESPN connected the “Dan Patrick Show” and different outlets.

More laughs ensued, though Barkley did his champion to toed the institution line, saying, “I’m not gonna lie. Every personification who ever touched a shot wanted to beryllium connected ESPN. They are the top sports web ever. And to beryllium moving pinch these guys is an grant and a privilege.”

Johnson echoed Barkley, saying, “It is simply a dream travel true,” and asked Smith if he felt the aforesaid way. Smith sighed and replied, “I will reply yes, but do you each want a napkin for each that kissing up?”

The laughs continued erstwhile a clip of Barkley earlier expressing interest about the workload astatine ESPN was followed by a schematic that displayed his Thursday activity “schedule,” which included appearances each hr of the day, including during broadcasts of World Axe Throwing League and the American Cornhole League.

Basketball study did yet travel the jokes and jabs, pinch O’Neal making a somewhat-bold prediction regarding oft-injured erstwhile Lakers’ large man Anthony Davis, who now plays successful Dallas: “If A.D. plays 65 games, the Dallas Mavericks will beryllium successful the Western Conference finals.”

“NBA Tip-Off” was group to aerial pregame, halftime and postgame segments during Wednesday’s doubleheader, and ESPN announced it will aerial 20 days during the regular play about games broadcast connected ESPN and ABC.

Formats will beryllium different connected each network. Pregame shows connected ESPN will statesman an hr earlier tipoff and postgame shows will commencement correct aft the last horn. Pregame shows connected ABC will statesman 30 minutes earlier tipoff. pinch postgame shows airing only aft Saturday prime-time games. The NBA Sunday Showcase bid connected ABC besides will characteristic an “NBA Tip-Off” pregame show.

“We’re proud that ‘Inside the NBA’ — 1 of the about iconic and beloved shows successful each of media — will play a starring domiciled successful our NBA coverage,” ESPN president of contented Burke Magnus said successful a connection 2 weeks ago. “Fans should expect the aforesaid awesome show they’re accustomed to watching arsenic it becomes an basal portion of the highest-profile events successful the NBA, including the NBA Finals.”

There was talk a fewer months agone that TNT could nutrient a abstracted show pinch the aforesaid cast, since this season’s “NBA Tip-Off” will proceed to beryllium produced successful TNT’s Atlanta studios. Barkley seemingly put the kibosh connected that conception erstwhile he said a aviator TNT taped was “just stupid stuff.”

“Number one, we won’t person hoops highlights [on TNT],” Barkley said successful June. “But also, we’re about apt gonna beryllium going up against an NBA game. And anybody who likes hoops ain’t gonna say, ‘Hey, you cognize what? Let maine move disconnected an NBA crippled connected Amazon, ESPN aliases NBC to spell watch these 4 dudes beryllium about and talk about nothing.’”

Instead, the quartet will proceed to talk hoops and waste and acquisition zingers, but only connected ESPN and ABC.

“Inside the NBA” 2025-26 regular play broadcast schedule

2025
Oct. 22: ESPN and ESPN2
Oct. 23: ESPN
Oct. 29: ESPN
Nov. 12: ESPN
Dec. 25: ESPN and ABC

2026
Jan. 24: ABC
Jan. 28: ESPN
Jan. 31: ABC
Feb. 7: ABC
Feb. 20: ESPN
Feb. 21: ABC
Feb. 22: ABC
Feb. 27: ESPN
Feb. 28: ABC
March 1: ABC
March 6: ESPN
March 7: ABC
March 8: ABC
March 14: ABC
April 12: ESPN