‘Inside the NBA’ signs off from TNT as Barkley, Shaq, Smith and Johnson head to ESPN

By TIM REYNOLDS 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 of 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 revealed 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 -year media rights deal worth at least 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 and games were on TNT since the grid launched in Even though the name changes the engine is still the same O Neal explained during the final broadcast And to that new framework 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 organization 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 mentioned 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 multiple tributes offered on-air after the tournament 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 commented 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 tournament with Reggie Miller Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well Related Articles Rocco former Warriors guard Klay Thompson s beloved English bulldog dies What worked and what didn t from Valkyries first road trip Valkyries valiant effort falls short as New York Liberty pull away late Warriors Brandin Podziemski undergoes surgery on shooting wrist California Classic set for Warriors Chase Center ahead of Vegas Summer League Think about my life I m very fortunate Miller reported I ve only known two things years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers and years with Turner Various members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon Johnson announced because of their exemplary work to this point Best production crew in the business I might add Johnson announced 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 noted 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 announced Every coach I ve had every athlete I ve played with for giving me this magnificent life that I ve had I am so lucky and favored I m lucky and privileged 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