History of Inside the NBA in Timeline
Inside the NBA is a well-known halftime and postgame studio show, initially airing on TNT from 1989 to 2025 and later on ESPN. The show is hosted by Ernie Johnson alongside analysts Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal. Former analysts of note include Magic Johnson, Reggie Miller, and Chris Webber. The show provides commentary and analysis on NBA games.
1989: Inside the NBA airs on TNT
In 1989, Inside the NBA began airing on TNT as part of the network's acquisition of NBA broadcast rights.
1989: EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night begins
In 1989, the "EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night" segment started, noted for its lack of continuous sponsorship.
1990: Ernie Johnson becomes host
In 1990, Ernie Johnson became the full-time host of Inside the NBA, a role he continues to hold.
1998: Kenny Smith joins Inside the NBA full-time
In 1998, Kenny Smith became a full-time analyst alongside Ernie Johnson on Inside the NBA.
2000: Charles Barkley joins Inside the NBA
In 2000, Charles Barkley joined Inside the NBA and gained notoriety for his outspoken opinions.
2001: Johnson wins Sports Emmy Award as a studio host in 2001
In 2001, Johnson won a Sports Emmy Award as a studio host.
May 2002: Bill Simmons praises Inside the NBA
In May 2002, Bill Simmons of ESPN.com lauded Inside the NBA as "the greatest TV studio show I've seen," highlighting its ability to sometimes surpass the actual game's ratings.
2002: Sports Emmy Award for best daily show in 2002
In 2002, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show.
2002: New theme song introduced
In 2002, a new theme song composed by Trevor Rabin was introduced.
2002: Barkley kisses donkey after Yao scores 19 points
In 2002, after Charles Barkley claimed Yao Ming wouldn't score 19 points, and Yao did, Barkley kissed the rear end of a donkey on 'Listen Up! With Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson'.
2003: Magic Johnson joins Inside the NBA
In 2003, Magic Johnson became the third analyst on Inside the NBA.
2003: Magic Johnson becomes analyst
In 2003, Magic Johnson began serving as a third analyst on Inside the NBA.
2003: New theme song used since the 2002–2003 season
Since 2003, the current theme song, composed by Trevor Rabin, former guitarist of Yes, has been used on Inside the NBA.
2006: Sports Emmy Award for best daily show in 2006
In 2006, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show and Johnson won an award as a studio host.
2007: Barkley makes degrading comments about Oakland
During the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Charles Barkley made degrading comments about Oakland, California, after the Golden State Warriors' upset of the Dallas Mavericks, leading to the Oracle Arena scoreboard showing the Warriors' mascot throwing a pie at Barkley.
2007: Sports Emmy Award for best daily show in 2007
In 2007, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show.
2007: Magic Johnson departs
In 2007, Magic Johnson concluded his time as an analyst on Inside the NBA.
2007: Magic Johnson departs Inside the NBA
In 2007, Magic Johnson ended his tenure as an analyst on Inside the NBA.
2007: Barkley challenged to race Bavetta
In 2007, after Johnson and Smith joked that Dick Bavetta could beat Charles Barkley in a race, Bavetta challenged Barkley to a footrace during the 2007 All-Star Weekend.
2008: Sports Emmy Award for best daily show in 2008
In 2008, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show.
2008: Miller and Webber split analyst role
In 2008, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber began sharing the third analyst position on Inside the NBA.
2008: Reggie Miller and Chris Webber join Inside the NBA
In 2008, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber started splitting the third analyst role on Inside the NBA.
2009: Sports Emmy Award for best daily show in 2009
In 2009, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show.
2011: NCAA Tournament coverage begins
Beginning in 2011, the Inside the NBA team started covering the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as CBS partnered with Turner for NCAA March Madness.
2011: Barkley wins Sports Emmy Award as a studio analyst in 2011
In 2011, Barkley won a Sports Emmy Award as a studio analyst.
2011: Miller and Webber depart
In 2011, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber both concluded their time as analysts on Inside the NBA.
2011: Shaquille O'Neal joins Inside the NBA
In 2011, Shaquille O'Neal joined Inside the NBA as an analyst.
2011: Shaquille O'Neal joins and Shaqtin' a Fool segment added
In 2011, Shaquille O'Neal was hired as a studio analyst for Inside the NBA, leading to the creation of the "Shaqtin' a Fool" segment.
2012: Sports Emmy Award for best weekly show in 2012
In 2012, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best weekly show and Barkley won an award as a studio analyst.
2012: Shaqtin' a Fool segment begins
In 2012, when O'Neal joined Inside the NBA, the "Shaqtin' a Fool" segment was created, showcasing on-court bloopers and mistakes.
2014: Barkley comments on San Antonio heat
During coverage of the 2014 NBA Finals on Gametime on NBA TV, Charles Barkley commented on the heat in San Antonio and brought out a bucket labeled "San Antonio Air Conditioning Fund."
2014: Comments about San Antonio women lead to mockery
During the 2014 Western Conference Finals, Charles Barkley's comments about San Antonio women led to a response with shirts mocking Barkley. He responded by saying that they must have flown them in from Dallas or Houston.
2014: Sports Emmy Awards won in 2014
In 2014, Inside the NBA won Sports Emmy Awards for the best daily show and for the best weekly show. Johnson also won an award as a studio host.
2014: New York Times praises Inside the NBA
In 2014, The New York Times recognized Inside the NBA as "one of the most freewheeling, unpredictable and funny talk shows on television."
October 2016: Inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame
In October 2016, Inside the NBA was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.
2016: Panelists' comments on the 2016 presidential election praised
In 2016, Inside the NBA panelists' comments about the presidential election, especially Johnson's, received praise in the national media.
2016: Sports Emmy Award for the best decoration and art visuals in 2016
In 2016, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best decoration and art visuals. Barkley also won an award as a studio analyst.
2016: "Area 21" segment debuts
In 2016, following his retirement, Kevin Garnett joined Inside the NBA and began hosting the "Area 21" segment, known for its informal style and 'cuss button'.
October 20, 2017: Outside the NBA show debut
On October 20, 2017, Outside the NBA, a show on Facebook Watch featuring the same panel as Inside the NBA discussing subjects outside of the NBA, debuted.
2017: "Players Only" edition begins
In 2017, Inside the NBA introduced a "Players Only" edition on Mondays, featuring players-turned-analysts such as Webber, O'Neal, Garnett, Isiah Thomas, Chris Bosh, and Baron Davis.
2018: Johnson wins Sports Emmy Award as a studio host in 2018
In 2018, Johnson won a Sports Emmy Award as a studio host.
2019: Sports Emmy Awards won in 2019
In 2019, Inside the NBA won Sports Emmy Awards for the best weekly show, best weekly show – limited run : playoffs and for the best social TV experience. Johnson also won an award as a studio host.
2019: "Players Only" edition ends
In 2019, the "Players Only" edition of Inside the NBA concluded.
2020: Draymond Green appears on Inside the NBA during playoffs
During the 2020 playoffs, Draymond Green made appearances on Inside the NBA.
2020: Honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2020, Inside the NBA was honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with the Curt Gowdy Media Award, making it the first NBA telecast to receive the honor.
2020: Sports Emmy Awards won in 2020
In 2020, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best weekly show. Johnson also won an award as a studio host and Barkley won an award as a studio analyst.
2020: Kenny Smith's solidarity with social justice protests
In 2020, Kenny Smith's public support on Inside the NBA for social justice protests was described as "impactful."
2021: Draymond Green appears on Inside the NBA during playoffs
During the 2021 playoffs, Draymond Green made appearances on Inside the NBA.
2021: NBA on TNT Postgame Show
During the 2021-22 season, Inside the NBA aired after TNT Tuesday games during the NFL regular season, with postgame shows rebranded as the NBA on TNT Postgame Show beginning in January, featuring Adam Lefkoe, O'Neal, Candace Parker, and Dwyane Wade.
2021: Sports Emmy Awards won in 2021
In 2021, Inside the NBA won Sports Emmy Awards for the best weekly show and best weekly show – limited run : playoffs.
2022: Barkley gives fake apology to San Antonio
In 2022, Barkley gave a fake apology on the show to San Antonio after trying churros.
2022: Draymond Green added to TNT analyst roster
In 2022, Draymond Green was added to TNT's analyst roster, contributing to Inside the NBA while still an active player.
2022: Sports Emmy Awards won in 2022
In 2022, Inside the NBA won Sports Emmy Awards for the best weekly show and best weekly show – limited run : playoffs.
2022: Jamal Crawford replaces Dwyane Wade
In 2022, Jamal Crawford replaced Dwyane Wade as an analyst on NBA on TNT Tuesdays after Wade chose to focus on other business interests.
2022: Contract renewals for Inside the NBA panelists
Prior to the 2022-23 season, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announced contract renewals for all four main Inside the NBA panelists, including a 10-year extension for Charles Barkley.
2023: Malika Andrews borrows "EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night" name
During the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals, Malika Andrews borrowed the name "EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night" while appearing on Tip-Off, part of the Inside collaboration with NBA Countdown, and received Johnson's blessing.
2023: Sports Emmy Award for best weekly show – limited run : playoffs in 2023
In 2023, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best weekly show – limited run : playoffs.
July 24, 2024: NBA Announces New Broadcasting Agreements
On July 24, 2024, the NBA announced new 11-year broadcasting agreements with ABC/ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, leaving TNT's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, without a primary NBA broadcast deal.
2024: Draymond Green appears on Inside the NBA during playoffs
During the 2024 playoffs, Draymond Green made appearances on Inside the NBA.
2024: Sports Emmy Awards won in 2024
In 2024, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best weekly show – limited run : playoffs and also saw Johnson win an award as a studio host and Barkley as a studio analyst.
May 31, 2025: Final Inside the NBA on TNT broadcast
On May 31, 2025, the final edition of Inside the NBA on TNT was broadcast, following Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
2025: Inside the NBA on ESPN's Schedule
ESPN announced that starting in 2025-26 season, Inside the NBA will be shown 20 times throughout the regular season during NBA Wednesday and Thursday doubleheaders.
2025: Inside the NBA moves to ABC/ESPN
In 2025, Inside the NBA is scheduled to begin airing on ABC and ESPN as part of a sub-licensing agreement.
2025: Inside the NBA to move to ESPN and ABC
In 2025, Inside the NBA will move to ESPN and ABC as part of a sublicensing agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and The Walt Disney Company.
2025: Awards won in 2025
In 2025, Johnson won an award as a studio host and Barkley won an award as a studio analyst.
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