Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal is staying at TNT Sports with a new contract worth more than $ 15 million a year, Frontofficus sports reported Friday.
This means that the quartet cast of “Inside the NBA” will remain together, although TNT will give the show license to ESPN from next season.
“Inside the NBA” quartet of Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal stay at the show
TNT was omitted from the recent negotiations of the NBA, because NBC and Amazon joins the previous Rechtslolder ESPN with securing deals for basketball matches.
TNT has a licenses “Inside the NBA” to ESPN in exchange for a package of BIG 12 College Football and Basketball matches.
The “Inside the NBA” commentator Quartet by Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Shaq would stay at the show at the start of the NBA season 2024-25.
Although Barkley was interested in NBC and Amazon, the Hall of Famer and Smith agreed to stay on “Inside the NBA”, according to Front Office sports.
Exclusive: Shaquille O’Neal has an agreement for a huge long-term agreement with TNT sports that will pay him more than $ 15 million a year, FOS has learned.
Story @Mmccarthyrev ⬇️
– Front Office Sports (@fos) February 14, 2025
“I inform NBC that I will not accept their offer,” Barkley told Johnson on their podcast “Steam Room”. “I’m going to cancel future meetings with Amazon. … My heart is always and will be at Turner Sports. “
Barkley signed a 10-year contract extension of $ 210 million with TNT in 2022. His deal is worth $ 21 million a year. Shaq and Smith are also expected to sign new multi -year deals to stay with TNT, sources say.
Shaq heard from NBA, Amazon
Moreover, Shaq reportedly heard from NBA and Amazon, according to CNBC Sport. The Lakers legend joined “Inside the NBA” in 2011 after a 19-year-old gaming career.
NBC is in conversation with Carmelo Anthony for a studio analyst position and Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as color commentators, per front office sports.
“Inside the NBA” debuted after TNT had taken over the rights to broadcast NBA matches during the 1989-90 season. Johnson became the host in 1990, while Smith became a full -time member in 1998. Barkley signed his contract in 2000.
In the future, the show will appear on ESPN and ABC to cover controversial live events, including ESPN’s Pregame, Rest time and postgame reporting of the NBA Finals on ABC.
“Inside the NBA” appears on ESPN, ABC for the NBA play -offs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day and opening week.
The show appears on those networks for the conference final, NBA -Play -Ooffs, all ABC matches after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the last week of the season and other selection framework Live events.
