Latest news with #ErnieJohnson
Washington Post
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
‘Inside the NBA' crew bids an emotional goodbye to the NBA on TNT
The NBA on TNT ended its decades-long run on the network Saturday night, a finale that included the signature 'Inside the NBA' show that blended analysis with hilarity, head-spinning observations and basketball banter over its 35 years on the air. 'Inside the NBA' will reappear next year on ESPN. But the show, for Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny 'The Jet' Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, finished its run on TNT after the Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and other NBA legends bid goodbye to fans as Inside the NBA on TNT ends on an emotional note
Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and other NBA legends bid goodbye to fans as Inside the NBA on TNT ends on an emotional note (Image Source: Getty) Basketball's popular show 'Inside the NBA' comes to an end on TNT and it has been a fan favourite for at least 40 years. On Saturday night, it was an emotional moment for all NBA stars where they sat down and discussed how emotional a moment it was for each one of them. An emotional goodbye for all For sports commentator Ernie Johnson, it was beautiful and emotional together. Right before he turned his back at the camera, and when he placed his mic on the desk, and got up from the chair, he said, 'I'm proud to say for the last time, 'Thanks for watching us. It's the NBA on TNT.' With the new season, NBA will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN now, instead of TNT, thanks to a new 11-year-old deal now. Fans can also find NBA games on Amazon Prime Video. For NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, it was indeed a beautiful moment. For him, even with the change of a name, not a lot will change. He said, 'Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same, And to that new network we're coming to, we're not coming to (expletive) around. ... We're taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.' For basketball coach Rick Carlisle, it was a sad moment. He said, 'Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that's coming to an end, We're all very sad about that.' Meanwhile, sports commentator Kevin Harlan reacted with much more gratitude in his heart. He said, 'Our hearts are full of gratitude, not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.' For NBA legend and former basketball shooting guard Reggie Miller, it was a fortunate incident. He said, 'Think about my life. I'm very fortunate, I've only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.' Also Read: Who Is Reggie Miller? Exploring The Life Of The NBA Legend While the NBA broadcast came to an end on TNT, it was a surreal moment for each player, the fans, and the teams. While nothing changes now, the experience of it is much more memorable and meaningful for everyone.
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
And with that, an era ends: 'Thanks for watching us. It's the NBA on TNT'
Ernie Johnson could barely get the words out. The run of 'Inside the NBA' on TNT came to an end on Saturday night after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one. 'I'm proud to say for the last time, 'Thanks for watching us. It's the NBA on TNT,'" Johnson said, before turning his back to the camera, placing his microphone on the desk and getting up from that set for the final time. NBA games will not be airing on TNT starting next season when the league's new television package kicks in — an 11-year media rights deal worth at least $76 billion, one that keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video. ABC will broadcast the NBA Finals, meaning the end of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and New York was the end of TNT's run. Turner Sports first acquired an NBA package in 1984 and games were on TNT since the network launched in 1988. 'Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same," O'Neal said during the final broadcast. "And to that new network we're coming to, we're not coming to (expletive) around. ... We're taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.' The moment was not lost on Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. His team had just clinched a spot in the NBA Finals by beating New York, and when his brief interview with Johnson during the trophy ceremony was over, Carlisle grabbed the microphone out of the host's hands. 'Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that's coming to an end,' Carlisle said in the unprompted tribute. 'We're all very sad about that.' The names of countless past and current broadcasters and analysts were included in the many tributes offered on-air after the game, including Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Dick Stockton, Cheryl Miller, Danny Ainge, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, Marv Albert, Brian Anderson, Chris Webber, Candace Parker and Craig Sager. 'Our hearts are full of gratitude,' TNT's Kevin Harlan said on-air, speaking to the viewers. 'Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.' Harlan had the play-by-play call for the final game, with Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well. 'Think about my life. I'm very fortunate,' Miller said. 'I've only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.' Many members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, Johnson said, because of their exemplary work to this point. 'Best production crew in the business, I might add,' Johnson said. And when it turned back to the 'Inside the NBA' crew for one last time on TNT, the emotions were clear. "This has just been a magnificent ride," Smith said. Barkley talked about how he was going to sign with NBC when starting his broadcast career, then switched to TNT. 'I just want to say thank you to the NBA," Barkley said. 'Every coach I've had, every player I've played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I've had. I am so lucky and blessed. I'm lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we'll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.' ___
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Inside the NBA' signs off with emotions ... and on-air F-bombs
'Inside the NBA' signs off with emotions ... and on-air F-bombs The bad news: Inside the NBA had its final moments on the air on TNT on Saturday night, as the Indiana Pacers took down the New York Knicks. The good news: the always amazing hoops show will stay intact, but it'll be airing on ESPN or ABC next season, with TNT no longer broadcasting the NBA. The news from Saturday night? Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley signed off from TNT, and there was plenty of emotion ... and plenty of on-air cursing. It was clear they didn't give a ... well, you know. Watch both Shaq and Kenny utter F-bombs before Johnson's less expletive-filled approach: There was also this sign off from Kevin Harlan, Stan Van Gundy, Reggie Miller and Allie LaForce, which included a lot of photos of the cast and crew. "Our hearts are full of gratitude," Harlan said. "It has been an honor, it has been a privilege and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we have." A tip of the cap to the NBA on TNT, which has really done an incredible job covering the league over the past couple of decades. It's not just Inside the NBA, which obviously is iconic and we're all so happy is still going to be on the air. But it was the way the network covered the NBA, tapping into the fun and wild rollercoaster that is professional hoops, while also doing it all professionally.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Inside the NBA' signs off with emotions ... and on-air F-bombs
The bad news: Inside the NBA had its final moments on the air on TNT on Saturday night, as the Indiana Pacers took down the New York Knicks. The good news: the always amazing hoops show will stay intact, but it'll be airing on ESPN or ABC next season, with TNT no longer broadcasting the NBA. Advertisement The news from Saturday night? Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley signed off from TNT, and there was plenty of emotion ... and plenty of on-air cursing. It was clear they didn't give a ... well, you know. Watch both Shaq and Kenny utter F-bombs before Johnson's less expletive-filled approach: There was also this sign off from Kevin Harlan, Stan Van Gundy, Reggie Miller and Allie LaForce, which included a lot of photos of the cast and crew. "Our hearts are full of gratitude," Harlan said. "It has been an honor, it has been a privilege and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we have." A tip of the cap to the NBA on TNT, which has really done an incredible job covering the league over the past couple of decades. It's not just Inside the NBA, which obviously is iconic and we're all so happy is still going to be on the air. But it was the way the network covered the NBA, tapping into the fun and wild rollercoaster that is professional hoops, while also doing it all professionally. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Inside the NBA on TNT signs off with emotions and F-bombs
