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SHAQUILLE O’Neal still has hope Inside the NBA can be saved.
The iconic NBA studio show’s future is uncertain with TNT Sports on the verge of losing TV rights to the league.
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The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network failed to strike a new media rights deal with the NBA earlier this year.
The Association announced ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video as broadcast partners starting in the 2025-26 season after coming to an 11-year, $72 billion agreement with the three networks.
WBD filed a lawsuit against the league after it rejected the media giant’s matching proposal for Amazon’s $1.8 billion contract.
The outcome of the legal battle is yet to be determined, but the expectation is that the challenge will be unsuccessful.
O’Neal, 52, was asked about the TNT-NBA negotiations and Inside the NBA’s future in a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
And while carefully weighing his words, Shaq said he still has faith his show can survive.
“We have one more year left,” the Los Angeles Lakers legend said.
“I am a consummate professional, so I’m not going to go left or go right.
“I just know we’re going to do this year and, hopefully, something can be arranged out to where the show continues.
“That’s all I’m at liberty to say right now.”
O’Neal said he didn’t let the TNT-NBA fallout frustrate him considering it was out of his hands.
He added the Inside the NBA crew will make sure that if their time together is indeed coming to an end, they will go out with a bang.
“Was I upset and frustrated? Not really, because as you guys know, when it’s not in your control, there’s really nothing you can do,” Shaq said.
“So again, I’m going to just keep it professional.
Highest contracts in NBA history
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics – 5 years, $314 million
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics – 5 years, $285.4 million
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets – 5 years, $276.1 million
- Bradley Beal, Suns – 5 years, $251 million (signed with Washington)
- Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves – 5 years, $244.6 million
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers – 5 years, $244.6 million
Per Spotrac
“We’ve got just one last year left. We’re going to f**king make it the best show ever.
“We’re going to give people memories and we’ll just take it from there.
“But I can’t go left or can’t right, because I’m a consummate professional.”
“My mother would be very upset.”
Whatever happens to Inside the NBA, TNT won’t be losing O’Neal’s on-air sparring partner Charles Barkley.
Despite initially suggesting he would retire from broadcast after the network’s NBA deal fiasco, Chuck committed to WBD for the foreseeable future.
