TNT’S Inside the NBA has the chance to lose a key star from the show.
Kenny “The Jet” Smith may be the NBA’s outsider amid long-term uncertainty Basketball show that looks set to end after the 2024-25 season.
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Smith, a two-time NBA champion, was part of TNT’s star-studded panel, which includes Carlos Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and host Ernie Johnson.
But within the NBA future remains in jeopardy, with TNT poised to lose NBA broadcast rights to NBC.
As a result, it was reported by Disco that Smith is “vulnerable to collateral damage” in the conflict.
“Smith…is less recognizable than a cavalcade of recently retired professionals,” Puck reported.
“CBS just made a similar move by replacing Boomer Esiason with Matt Ryan.”
The 2024-25 NBA season could be the last for TNT due to the fact that NBC is about to receive the rights to the “B” package that TNT parent Warner Bros. has acquired.
Puck also reported that there is “great interest” in the future from TNT’s top analysts.
The interest reportedly comes from NBC and Amazonyou can purchase package “C”.
The Emmy-winning sports show Inside the NBA has long been a fan favorite thanks to its energetic analysis and commentary of the league’s players and games.
Barkley was reportedly chased by nets.
Some of the networks will also try to sign O’Neal, as he and Barkley often go back and forth in hilarious debates.
Sports Business The Journal reported that Johnson will remain with TNT no matter what.
However, networks appear not to be as attracted to Smith, which could lead to him losing his broadcasting role.
Puck reported that Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, who already appears on Inside the NBA, is among numerous sports personalities who could be sought for expanded roles on TNT.
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Current NBA star Chris and former basketball legends Dwayne Wade and Grant Hill are also among the candidates.
Inside the NBA began in 1989, with Johnson taking the reins as host in 1990.
Smith has appeared since 1998, while Barkley joined the show in 2000 and O’Neal signed on to the show in 2011.
Inside the future of the NBA?
The operation of the NBA on TNT Sports is in great doubt due to the NBA’s broadcast agreements.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA ends after next season and NBC appears poised to take over those rights in a $2.6 billion deal.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it will raise serious questions about the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which would snatch the rights from the NBA.
Warner Bros. TNT’s parent company Discovery was left out of final negotiations for NBA rights starting in 2025.
NBC’s package is coming in at about $2.6 billion, up from an initial $2.5 billion, according to the Sports Business Journal report.
Sources revealed to the outlet that the NBA will accept NBC’s final offer to Warner Bros.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
