Premiere of NBA Tip-Off begins with good-natured

The band is back together, even though they never actually parted.

Departed? Sure. The crew that comprised “Inside the NBA” moved from TNT when the cable community misplaced its NBA broadcast rights to ESPN, NBC and Amazon after last season.

But the ensemble that in some way is larger than the sum of its star-studded components continues — albeit now under the title, “NBA Tip-Off.”

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

And they poked enjoyable at themselves and at the Worldwide Leader. Any fears that ESPN fits would tone down the rollicking, often hilarious dynamic the quartet introduced to the last decade-plus of the 36-year “Inside the NBA” run had been rapidly doused.

O’Neal opened by admonishing Johnson for mentioning the NBA‘s opening games Tuesday night, which broadcast on NBC and the Peacock streaming service.

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

Johnson gently pushed back, replying, “Don’t be that way!” to more laughs.

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

Barkley, who had been the most vocal skeptic of leaving TNT for ESPN, seconded that sentiment, saying “I was nervous all day.” But before he may continue in a more severe vein, Johnson interrupted and clips had been shown of Barkley expressing doubts about ESPN on the “Dan Patrick Show” and other shops.

More laughs ensued, although Barkley did his best to toe the company line, saying, “I’m not gonna lie. Every person who ever touched a ball wanted to be on ESPN. They are the greatest sports network ever. And to be working with these guys is an honor and a privilege.”

Johnson echoed Barkley, saying, “It is a dream come true,” and requested Smith if he felt the same means. Smith sighed and replied, “I will answer yes, but do you all want a napkin for all that kissing up?”

The laughs continued when a clip of Barkley earlier expressing fear about the workload at ESPN was adopted by a graphic that displayed his Thursday work “schedule,” which included appearances every hour of the day, including during broadcasts of World Axe Throwing League and the American Cornhole League.

Basketball analysis did ultimately comply with the jokes and jabs, with O’Neal making a somewhat-bold prediction concerning oft-injured former Lakers’ big man Anthony Davis, who now performs in Dallas: “If A.D. plays 65 games, the Dallas Mavericks will be in the Western Conference finals.”

“NBA Tip-Off” was set to air pregame, halftime and postgame segments during Wednesday’s doubleheader, and ESPN announced it’ll air 20 days during the common season around video games broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

Formats might be different on each community. Pregame exhibits on ESPN will start an hour before tipoff and postgame exhibits will start proper after the ultimate horn. Pregame exhibits on ABC will start half-hour before tipoff. with postgame exhibits airing only after Saturday prime-time video games. The NBA Sunday Showcase collection on ABC also will characteristic an “NBA Tip-Off” pregame show.

“We’re proud that ‘Inside the NBA’ — one of the most iconic and beloved shows in all of media — will play a leading role in our NBA coverage,” ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said in a assertion two weeks in the past. “Fans should expect the same great show they’re accustomed to watching as it becomes an essential part of the highest-profile events in the NBA, including the NBA Finals.”

There was discuss a few months in the past that TNT may produce a separate show with the same solid, since this season’s “NBA Tip-Off” will continue to be produced in TNT’s Atlanta studios. Barkley seemingly put the kibosh on that notion when he said a pilot TNT taped was “just stupid stuff.”

“Number one, we won’t have basketball highlights [on TNT],” Barkley said in June. “But also, we’re probably gonna be going up against an NBA game. And anybody who likes basketball ain’t gonna say, ‘Hey, you know what? Let me turn off an NBA game on Amazon, ESPN or NBC to go watch these four dudes sit around and talk about nothing.’”

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

“Inside the NBA” 2025-26 common season broadcast schedule

2025
Oct. 22: ESPN and ESPN2
Oct. 23: ESPN
Oct. 29: ESPN
Nov. 12: ESPN
Dec. 25: ESPN and ABC

2026
Jan. 24: ABC
Jan. 28: ESPN
Jan. 31: ABC
Feb. 7: ABC
Feb. 20: ESPN
Feb. 21: ABC
Feb. 22: ABC
Feb. 27: ESPN
Feb. 28: ABC
March 1: ABC
March 6: ESPN
March 7: ABC
March 8: ABC
March 14: ABC
April 12: ESPN