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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
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.' ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shaq had an emphatic message ahead of Inside the NBA's swan song
It's certainly hitting home that we're in the final days of Inside the NBA's time on air now. For years, Inside the NBA has been a basketball staple as TNT's pre and postgame show. The broadcast has brought a lot of laughs to fans and to the crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal amidst their hijinks. Advertisement Yet, despite fan's pleas, TNT's Inside the NBA as we all know it is changing once ESPN takes over the reins next basketball season. While it's been confirmed that Inside the NBA is moving over to ESPN along with the crew, the details of what the show will become are still nebulous. As such, fans have been dreading the lead up to the final days of the show because it certainly won't be the same in some way when the dust settles at ESPN. On Thursday, ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals with the New York Knicks' season on the line, Shaq delivered a quite poignant and emphatic message to his cohosts and the fans watching. Given that the series between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers is nearing its end, TNT is running out of games left to broadcast this season, as the NBA Finals will be covered by ESPN this year. So, to honor that time coming to an end, Shaq's speech absolutely hit the mark for one of the final send offs we'll get for Inside the NBA. It's great to see the Inside the NBA crew in high spirits despite all the uncertainty and instability with this move. Here's to an amazing ride for this show. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Shaq had an emphatic message ahead of Inside the NBA's swan song
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Shaq had an emphatic message ahead of Inside the NBA's swan song
Shaq had an emphatic message ahead of Inside the NBA's swan song Shaq has a message about 'Inside the NBA' ending on TNT and the "new beginning" on "whatever network we go to." 🏀📺🎙️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #NBA — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 30, 2025 It's certainly hitting home that we're in the final days of Inside the NBA's time on air now. For years, Inside the NBA has been a basketball staple as TNT's pre and postgame show. The broadcast has brought a lot of laughs to fans and to the crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal amidst their hijinks. Yet, despite fan's pleas, TNT's Inside the NBA as we all know it is changing once ESPN takes over the reins next basketball season. While it's been confirmed that Inside the NBA is moving over to ESPN along with the crew, the details of what the show will become are still nebulous. As such, fans have been dreading the lead up to the final days of the show because it certainly won't be the same in some way when the dust settles at ESPN. On Thursday, ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals with the New York Knicks' season on the line, Shaq delivered a quite poignant and emphatic message to his cohosts and the fans watching. Given that the series between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers is nearing its end, TNT is running out of games left to broadcast this season, as the NBA Finals will be covered by ESPN this year. So, to honor that time coming to an end, Shaq's speech absolutely hit the mark for one of the final send offs we'll get for Inside the NBA. It's great to see the Inside the NBA crew in high spirits despite all the uncertainty and instability with this move. Here's to an amazing ride for this show.
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Shaquille O'Neal drops a bomb on Jimmy Fallon: A recent viral moment was indeed about No. 2
One may be the loneliest number, but No. 2 is what sent Shaquille O'Neal urgently mincing off the 'Inside the NBA' stage last month while the cameras kept running. O'Neal copped to the truth Thursday night during his 18th appearance on 'The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,' giving what might be more detail than anyone needed about that sudden departure in April. First, he clung to the fib, saying, 'I was drinking a lot of water that day. So I know I had the No. 2 run, but it was really a No. 1. So let's just get that out of the way.' He explained he was drinking olive oil at the time 'to be sexy,' because he'd seen on Instagram that if he drank olive oil daily for 14 days, he would clean out his system and have a flat stomach. 'So I was trying that.' A laughing Fallon held his face in his hands. 'You know what,' O'Neal said. 'I just made a mistake. I lied to you on national TV. It wasn't a No. 1 run. It was a No. 2 run. I had to go bad. Oh, I had to go so bad.' Fallon begged him to keep telling the lie. O'Neal asked whether the host had seen him squeezing his butt cheeks as he scooted away from the 'Inside the NBA' desk. Then Fallon showed a photo of what the crew did to O'Neal the next day: It put a blue porta-potty in studio on his side of the table. Blessedly, the conversation then moved in a different direction. Things were a bit more serious but no less amusing back in April when O'Neal got up while a co-host was in the middle of talking and — in a big hurry — walked awkwardly in front of his fellow panelists and out the stage door. Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley weren't sure what was going on. 'You all right, big fella?' Barkley asked with a look of concern on his face. As the camera (cruelly) followed him, O'Neal blurted to his co-hosts to 'go ahead, keep talking' while one reminded him, 'Hey, we're on TV.' 'It's that olive oil you've been drinking,' Barkley said. 'Hey, take some matches with you.' As the remaining hosts broke into giggles, Kenny Smith said, 'After 40, you can't hold it no more.' 'That wasn't something planned, was it?' Ernie Johnson Jr. wondered. Smith also noted that O'Neal had been drinking olive oil to clean out his system, saying, 'Oh, he's cleaning out his gut all right!' 'I did not like his gait as he left!' Johnson said. And Barkley simply couldn't move past the idea of the smell. 'Please turn his mic off, that's all,' Smith quipped. Then, as Smith tried to return to talking about L.A. Clippers forward Kawhai Leonard, the team in TNT's Studio J came through with the instant replay of Shaq bailing out. Instant. Freaking. Replay. IN SLO-MO. The three very professional analysts immediately began very professional analysis of O'Neal's shambolic gait. The big man returned fairly soon after that, mumbling something about drinking too much water and about Barkley talking way too long when he really needed to cut to a break. 'Sorry about that, America,' he said. Seriously Shaq, you have absolutely no reason to apologize. As long as you remember the matches.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Knicks vs. Pacers fans: Jon Hamm makes Tyrese Haliburton a mad man. More stars at Game 1
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. It was a star-studded affair inside Madison Square Garden. There's always celebrities in the arena whenever the New York Knicks are at home, but the ante turned up a notch as the team hosted its first Eastern Conference final home game since 2000. As New York has embarked on its 2025 playoff run, more stars have shown up. It's a given to see loyal fans such as Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan in attendance, but the Game 6 clincher against the Boston Celtics in the second round brought out a flock of stars. Timothée Chalamet, Bad Bunny, Russell Wilson and Lenny Kravitz were just some of the many notable people in the crowd. Advertisement While the world has drastically changed since the Knicks' last conference finals appearance, you can always count on high-profile people sitting courtside for the Knicks, and plenty turned up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Here's a look at who attended Game 1 between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers: Jon Hamm makes Tyrese Haliburton a mad man "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm made a mad man out of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton after snagging a loose ball on the sidelines that Haliburton believed he could've kept inbounds. The incident happened with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter as the Knicks led 58-54. Haliburton tipped the ball away from New York's' OG Anunoby and attempted to gain control before it bounced out of bounds. Haliburton immediately went up to referees after the play to complain of interference by Hamm, but nothing came of it. Advertisement TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy joked, "If you are going to be a Knicks fan, help them." Knicks halftime show tonight had Shaq on his feet Singer Mary J Blige performed during halftime at Madison Square Garden, but the "Inside the NBA" crew unfortunately had the responsibility of broadcasting the half-time show through Blige's performance. Midway through his halftime report, commentator Shaquille O'Neal couldn't hold off dancing any longer. He jumped out his seat and started grooving to Blige. "I can't take it no more Ernie (Johnson)," O'Neal said as he danced. Kenny Smith appeared to get the dancing bug next because he also jumped up to dance: "I can't control it either." Knicks halftime show tonight: Mary J Blige Singer Mary J Blige was the halftime performer at Madison Square Garden for Game 1. The New York City native performed her hit single "Family Affair." She's used to rocking out halftime shows. She performed at the Super Bowl 56 halftime show in Inglewood, California in February 2022. Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan front and center "Wonka" star Timothée Chalamet has the golden ticket — a front row seat at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He's been a staple at Knicks home games this season and Wednesday was no exception. The New York City native paired orange pants and a striped orange button-up with Timberland boots. Chalamet didn't attend the game with girlfriend Kylie Jenner this time, instead he sat next to fellow Knicks superfan Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan. Tracy Morgan, Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller attend Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025 in New York City. Martha Stewart has arrived Martha Stewart, the lifestyle icon, arrived at Madison Square Garden Radio City Music Hall Knicks watch party rocking No ticket to Madison Square Garden, no problem. Diehard Knicks fans that couldn't make it to the game flocked to a watch party at Radio City Music Hall to cheer on the blue and orange in Game 1 vs. the Pacers. Knicks great Carmelo Anthony cheers on former team Former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia isn't the only New York legend in the house. Advertisement Ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who played for the Knicks from 2011 to 2017, was on hand to watch his former team compete. He was seated next to former Knicks teammates Amar'e Stoudemire (2010–2015) and J. R. Smith (2012–2015). Former Knick Baron Davis, who played a short stint in New York from 2011 to 2012, was also spotted. Knicks legends in the house: Patrick Ewing helps surprise fan Patrick Ewing, another Knicks icon, was on hand for Game 1. The 11-time All-Star played for the Knicks from 1985 to 2000 and currently serves as the Knicks' basketball ambassador. He helped surprise a fan wearing his Knicks jersey during a game break and presented her with another to add to her collection. Ewing's No. 33 jersey was retired by the Knicks on February 28, 2003. Advertisement Former Knicks' players Latrell Sprewell (1999–2003), John Starks (1990–1998) and Stephon Marbury (2004–2009) were also in attendance. Walter 'Clyde' Frazier Jr. gets applause The champ is here. Walter "Clyde" Frazier Jr. led the Knicks to two titles in 1970 and 1973, which remain the franchise's only NBA championships to date. Frazier looked dapper in a red and black suit as he waved on the Jumbotron. Tracy Morgan, David Chappelle in the building Comedian and Knicks superfan Tracy Morgan arrived at Madison Square Garden in style for Game 1. He donned a white shirt featuring a bloodied photo of Knicks guard Josh Hart that reads, "Standing on Bidness." The image is from the Knicks' 127-102 Game 5 loss to the Celtics on May 14, when Hart got elbowed in the face by Boston's Luke Kornet. He got stitches on the gash above his eye and returned to the game with a bandage. The back of Morgan's shirt reads, "Revenge." Advertisement He's not the only comedian in the building. David Chappelle and "Saturday Night Live" star Michael Che were spotted on "Celebrity Row" next to Morgan. Suni Lee is in the building Olympic gold medal gymnast Suni Lee is having a flipping good time at Madison Square Garden. She was spotted on Celebrity Row and earned a loud applause from the crowd after being shown on the Jumbotron. Josh Hart manifested Lee's appearance. During Lee's visit to MSG on April 6, OG Anunoby exploded for a team-high 32 points in a win over the Phoenix Suns. That led Hart to request her appearance during the playoffs: 'We need Suni (Lee) or Anne Hathaway at every game during this playoff run.' Advertisement This isn't Lee's first playoff appearance. She attended Game 2 of the first round series between the Knicks and Detroit Pistons on April 21, but the Knicks' good luck charm wasn't enough. They were defeated by the Pistons 100-94, but ultimately won the series. Date night for Jennifer Hudson, Common It's date night for singer Jennifer Hudson and rapper Common. The power couple was spotted at Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday. The pair have taken in several games together this season, including the NBA HBCU Classic during the 2025 All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. Rappers Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes in the house The New York native leaned back in his courtside seats at Madison Square Garden. Fat Joe was spotted dapping up Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau before tipoff. He's not the only rapper in the house. New York native Busta Rhymes was also on hand. CC Sabathia spotted A New York legend is in the building. Former New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia was spotted on Celebrity Row. The six-time All-Star led the Yankees to a World Series championship in 2009, the last title for the Yankees. Yes, basketball players get starstruck Stars are just like us — They get starstruck too. Advertisement TNT commentator Kenny Smith offered fans an inside look into how players feel competing in front of a star-studded crowd, especially in New York's Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles' Arena. "You cannot glance to the left. You cannot glance to the right. You have to stay focused in, because there's Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, all the famous rappers that you've ever wanted to talk to. They are here tonight," Smith said on the "Inside the NBA" pre-game show. "When you're in the Eastern Conference Finals, you have to knock that out and not pay attention to any of that." Larry David and Susie Essman sit courtside Larry David won't have to curb his enthusiasm tonight at Madison Square Garden. The actor and comedian was spotted courtside alongside "Curb Your Enthusiasm" co-star Susie Essman. David even got a shout-out on TNT's "Inside the NBA" pre-game broadcast. "I need to 'Curb my Enthusiasm,'" host Ernie Johnson joked after spotting David. What time is Knicks vs. Pacers? Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers tips off Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. How to watch Knicks vs. Pacers: TV, stream Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Madison Square Garden; New York TV: TNT Stream: Max, Sling Advertisement The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks vs Pacers fans: Jon Hamm, Timothée Chalamet, more at Game 1
