Premiere of ‘NBA Tip-Off’ begins with good-natured digs at ESPN

The group is reunited again, even though they never really separated.

Deceased? Of course. The team that made up “Inside the NBA” left TNT when the cable network lost its NBA broadcast rights to ESPN, NBC and Amazon after last season.

But the whole that is somehow greater than the sum of its star-studded parts continues — albeit now under the title “NBA Tip-Off.”

The familiar lineup of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson gathered for a pregame show ahead of ESPN’s doubleheader Wednesday, with the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Dallas Mavericks.

And they made fun of themselves and the world leader. Any fears that ESPN’s lawsuits would dampen the exhilarating and often hilarious dynamic the quartet brought over the past decade-plus of the 36-year “Inside the NBA” run were quickly extinguished.

O’Neal opened by chastising Johnson for mentioning Tuesday night’s NBA openers, broadcast on NBC and the Peacock streaming service.

“You’re supposed to say, this is TRON — the real opening night,” O’Neal said with a laugh. “Don’t forget who we are, boys.”

Johnson gently pushed back, responding, “Don’t be like that!” to more laughter.

O’Neal said Smith was almost late for the show, and Smith said, “I haven’t been this nervous since Game 7 of the NBA Finals.”

Barkley, who had been the most skeptical about TNT leaving for ESPN, seconded that sentiment, saying, “I was nervous all day.” But before he could continue in a more serious tone, Johnson interrupted and clips were shown of Barkley expressing doubts on ESPN’s “Dan Patrick Show” and other media outlets.

More laughter followed, although Barkley did his best to toe the company line, saying, “I’m not going to lie. Every person who touched a ball wanted to be on ESPN. It’s the greatest sports network of all time. And working with these guys is an honor and a privilege.”

Johnson echoed Barkley by saying, “It’s a dream come true” and asked Smith if he felt the same way. Smith sighed and replied, “I’ll say yes, but do you all want a towel for all that kissing?”

The laughter continued when a clip of Barkley earlier expressing concern about the workload at ESPN was followed by a graphic showing his Thursday work “schedule,” which included appearances every hour of the day, including on broadcasts of the World Ax Throwing League and the American Cornhole League.

Basketball analysis eventually followed the jokes and jabs, with O’Neal making a somewhat bold prediction regarding oft-injured former Lakers big man Anthony Davis, who now plays in Dallas: “If AD plays 65 games, the Dallas Mavericks will be in the Western Conference Finals.”

“NBA Tip-Off” was scheduled to air pregame, halftime and postgame segments during Wednesday’s doubleheader, and ESPN said it would air 20 days during the regular season around games broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

Formats will be different on each network. Pregame shows on ESPN will begin one hour before tipoff and postgame shows will begin immediately after the final horn. Pregame shows on ABC will begin 30 minutes before tipoff. with post-game shows airing only after prime-time Saturday games. The NBA Sunday Showcase series on ABC will also feature an “NBA Tip-Off” pregame show.

“We are proud that ‘Inside the NBA’ – one of the most iconic and beloved shows in all of media – plays a leading role in our coverage of the NBA,” ESPN content president Burke Magnus said in a statement two weeks ago. “Fans should expect the same great spectacle they are accustomed to watching as it becomes a staple of the NBA’s highest-profile events, including the NBA Finals.”

A few months ago, there was talk that TNT might produce a separate show with the same cast, since this season’s “NBA Tip-Off” will continue to be produced at TNT’s Atlanta studios. Barkley seemingly put that notion to rest when he said a TNT-taped pilot was “just a stupid thing.”

“First, we won’t have basketball highlights [on TNT]”, Barkley said in June. “But also, we’re probably going to play an NBA game. And anyone who loves basketball is not going to say, “Hey, you know what? Let me turn off an NBA game on Amazon, ESPN or NBC and go watch these four guys sit around and talk about nothing.’

Instead, the quartet will continue to talk hoops and trade zingers, but only on ESPN and ABC.

“Inside the NBA” 2025-26 regular season broadcast calendar

2025
October 22: ESPN and ESPN2
October 23: ESPN
October 29: ESPN
November 12: ESPN
December 25: ESPN and ABC

2026
January 24: ABC
January 28: ESPN
January 31: ABC
February 7: ABC
February 20: ESPN
February 21: ABC
February 22: ABC
February 27: ESPN
February 28: ABC
March 1: ABC
March 6: ESPN
March 7: ABC
March 8: ABC
March 14: ABC
April 12: ESPN