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The Independent
an hour 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.' ___
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley's Parting ‘Inside the NBA' Message
Charles Barkley's Parting 'Inside the NBA' Message originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NBA on TNT's iconic run has come to an end. This is after the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks, 125-108, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night. Advertisement The East finals were TNT's last NBA broadcast as their TV rights deal comes to an end at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. This only means that Saturday night was TNT's final "Inside the NBA" show. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is a member of the long-running program's legendary quartet, and the 62-year-old could not help but get emotional in his final farewell message. "Obviously, I got lucky and made one of the best decisions ever," Barkley started. "I was obviously going to go to NBC, and a friend of mine, Michael Jackson, says, 'Come to have dinner at Turner. It'll make me look good.' "And these guys took me out to dinner, and after five hours, I had to call the great Dick Ebersol and say, 'Hey, man, I'm going to change my mind.'" Advertisement Barkley then went on to show his appreciation to everyone and anyone he has encountered during his two and a half decades with TNT. "I just want to thank every single person who's been at Turner with me the last 25 years. 25 years," he said. "... So if you're with people that long, they are your family. And I just want to thank everybody at Turner for the last 25 years. "It's been an honor, and I'm grateful and thankful." NBA legend Charles Barkley at the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Jairaj-Imagn Images Barkley will be taking his talents to ESPN as "Inside the NBA" transfers to the renowned sports network starting next season. The former NBA MVP also had a few things to say to ESPN ahead of his much-anticipated debut. Advertisement "And also to ESPN, it's going to be an honor and a privilege to work for you guys," he said. "You guys are the number one sports network in history. I'm excited for it. You guys got some tremendous talents over there. I'm looking forward to co-working with those guys." Barkley ended his emotional monologue by expressing how grateful he is for the life he's lived, and how much TNT has impacted the same. "But like I said, man, I just want to say thank you to the NBA, every coach I've had, every player I've played with for giving me this magnificent life that I've had," Barkley said. "I am so lucky and blessed. I'm lucky and blessed. Advertisement "And I want to thank TNT. And even though we'll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life." As they always say, all good things must come to an end. Related: Charles Barkley Issues Serious Warning to Pacers on Saturday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 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
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement '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.' Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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.' ___ AP NBA: Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
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.
