History of Inside the NBA in Timeline
Inside the NBA, also known as Inside the NBA presented by Kia, is the halftime and postgame studio show for NBA on TNT broadcasts. Hosted by Ernie Johnson, it features analysts Kenny 'The Jet' Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal. Notable former analysts include Magic Johnson, Reggie Miller, and Chris Webber. By the early 2000s, the show was highly regarded as one of the best sports analysis programs on American television and has won eighteen Sports Emmy Awards throughout its history.
1989: EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night Debuts
In 1989, 'EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night' became the traditional ending segment of Inside the NBA, known for its humorous and interesting stats.
1989: Inside the NBA Debuts
Inside the NBA debuted in 1989 after TNT acquired the rights to broadcast NBA games. Initially, the show had no permanent hosts or analysts, with various personalities sharing hosting duties.
1990: Ernie Johnson Becomes Host
In 1990, Ernie Johnson became the host of Inside the NBA, a role he retains to this day. His tenure has significantly impacted the show's success.
1998: Kenny Smith Joins as Analyst
In 1998, Kenny 'The Jet' Smith joined Inside the NBA as a full-time analyst, contributing to the show's dynamic analysis and commentary.
2000: Charles Barkley Joins Inside the NBA
In 2000, Charles Barkley joined Inside the NBA, significantly boosting the show's popularity. His addition brought a mix of league highlights and unscripted banter among the panelists, which resonated well with audiences.
May 2002: Bill Simmons' Praise for Inside the NBA
In May 2002, Bill Simmons of ESPN.com praised Inside the NBA, stating it was 'the greatest TV studio show I've seen.' At that time, the core panel consisted of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. Simmons noted the show's unique ability to sometimes surpass the ratings of the actual games it covered.
2002: Barkley's Donkey Kiss
In 2002, Charles Barkley kissed the rear end of a donkey on-air after losing a bet to Kenny Smith regarding Yao Ming's scoring. The same year, a controversial Sports Illustrated cover featuring Barkley in chains sparked debate.
2002: Introduction of Current Theme Song
In 2002, Inside the NBA introduced its current theme song, composed by Trevor Rabin, former guitarist of the progressive rock band Yes. This theme has been used since the 2002-2003 season.
2002: First Sports Emmy Award for Inside the NBA
In 2002, Inside the NBA won its first Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show. Ernie Johnson also received an award as a studio host that year.
2003: Magic Johnson Joins as Third Analyst
From 2003 to 2007, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson served as the third analyst on Inside the NBA, adding another layer of expertise to the panel.
2003: Current Theme Song Continues
In 2003, the theme song composed by Trevor Rabin continued to be used on Inside the NBA, having been introduced in the 2002-2003 season.
2006: Sports Emmy Award for Best Daily Show 2006
In 2006, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show, further cementing its status as a top sports program.
2007: Barkley vs. Bavetta Footrace
During the 2007 All-Star Weekend, Charles Barkley raced referee Dick Bavetta in a footrace, having been challenged due to Barkley's out-of-shape condition compared to Bavetta.
2007: Barkley Comments on Oakland
During the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Charles Barkley made degrading comments about Oakland, California, leading to a playful response from the Oracle Arena's scoreboard.
2007: Sports Emmy Award for Best Daily Show 2007
In 2007, Inside the NBA continued its winning streak by securing another Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show. Ernie Johnson also won an award as a studio host.
2007: Magic Johnson Ends Tenure as Analyst
In 2007, Magic Johnson concluded his tenure as an analyst on Inside the NBA, having contributed significantly to the show's success.
2008: Sports Emmy Award for Best Daily Show 2008
In 2008, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show, showcasing its consistent quality and popularity.
2008: Reggie Miller and Chris Webber Join as Analysts
In 2008, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber joined Inside the NBA, splitting the role of the third analyst until 2011.
2009: Sports Emmy Award for Best Daily Show 2009
In 2009, Inside the NBA received yet another Sports Emmy Award for the best daily show, demonstrating its enduring appeal.
2011: Shaquille O'Neal Hired as Analyst
Before the 2011–12 season, TNT hired Shaquille O'Neal as a studio analyst for Inside the NBA, leading to the creation of the 'Shaqtin' a Fool' segment.
2011: Inside the NBA Covers NCAA Tournament
Beginning in 2011, Inside the NBA's team covered the NCAA men's basketball tournament as CBS partnered with Turner for March Madness.
2012: Sports Emmy Award for Best Weekly Show 2012
In 2012, Inside the NBA won a Sports Emmy Award for the best weekly show, marking another milestone in the show's illustrious history.
2012: Shaqtin' a Fool Segment Debuts
In 2012, Shaquille O'Neal introduced the 'Shaqtin' a Fool' segment on Inside the NBA, showcasing humorous bloopers from around the league.
2013: Charles Barkley Wins Sports Emmy Award 2013
In 2013, Charles Barkley won a Sports Emmy Award as a studio analyst, highlighting his contributions to the show's success.
2014: Multiple Sports Emmy Awards in 2014
In 2014, Inside the NBA won multiple Sports Emmy Awards, including those for best daily show and best weekly show. This highlighted the show's broad appeal and excellence across different formats.
2014: New York Times Describes Inside the NBA
In 2014, the New York Times described Inside the NBA as 'one of the most freewheeling, unpredictable and funny talk shows on television.' The article praised the dynamic interplay between the panelists, although it referred to Shaquille O'Neal as the 'weak link.'
2015: Ernie Johnson Wins Sports Emmy Award 2015
In 2015, Ernie Johnson won a Sports Emmy Award as a studio host, further solidifying his standing as a top sports broadcaster.
October 2016: Inside the NBA Inducted into Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame
In October 2016, Inside the NBA was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, becoming the 12th program and the third sports show to receive this honor, following SportsCenter and Monday Night Football.
2016: Kevin Garnett Hosts Area 21
Before the 2016–17 season, Kevin Garnett joined Inside the NBA and began hosting the 'Area 21' segment, known for its informal style and the presence of a 'cuss button.'
2016: Best Decoration and Art Visuals Sports Emmy Award 2016
In 2016, Inside the NBA received a Sports Emmy Award for best decoration and art visuals, recognizing its outstanding production quality.
2016: Panel's Comments on 2016 Presidential Election
In 2016, Inside the NBA's panelists received national praise for their serious and thoughtful comments regarding the presidential election, especially Ernie Johnson's contributions to the discussion.
October 20, 2017: Debut of Outside the NBA on Facebook Watch
On October 20, 2017, Outside the NBA debuted on Facebook Watch. The show features the same panelists from Inside the NBA discussing topics outside of the NBA.
2017: Players Only Edition
Between 2017 and 2019, Inside the NBA aired a 'Players Only' edition on Mondays, featuring player-turned-analysts like Chris Webber, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kevin Garnett.
2017: Charles Barkley Wins Sports Emmy Award 2017
In 2017, Charles Barkley received another Sports Emmy Award as a studio analyst, showcasing his ongoing impact on Inside the NBA.
2019: Sports Emmy Awards for Inside the NBA in 2019
In 2019, Inside the NBA won several Sports Emmy Awards, including best weekly show, best weekly show – limited run, and best social TV experience. Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley also received individual awards.
2019: Players Only Edition Ends
In 2019, the 'Players Only' edition of Inside the NBA, which featured former players as analysts, concluded its run.
2020: Draymond Green Makes Appearances
During the 2020 playoffs, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green made occasional appearances on Inside the NBA.
2020: Sports Emmy Awards for Inside the NBA in 2020
In 2020, Inside the NBA secured multiple Sports Emmy Awards, including best weekly show, best weekly show – limited run, and individual awards for Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley.
2020: Curt Gowdy Media Award from 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 this distinction.
2020: Kenny Smith's Solidarity with Social Justice Protests
In 2020, Kenny Smith's show of solidarity with social justice protests was described as 'impactful' by Sportscasting. The panel also displayed strong support for Ernie Johnson after the death of his son Michael, with Johnson expressing his gratitude on air and via Twitter.
March 2021: The Inside Story Miniseries Airs on TNT
In March 2021, TNT aired The Inside Story, a four-part miniseries documenting Inside the NBA, during the NBA All-Star Break. Each 90-minute episode focused on one core panelist, and the miniseries was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Series at the 43rd Sports Emmy Awards.
2021: Draymond Green Appears During Playoffs
During the 2021 playoffs, Draymond Green continued to make appearances on Inside the NBA as an active player.
2021: TNT Moves Marquee Games to Tuesday
During the 2021–22 season, TNT moved its marquee NBA games to Tuesday to avoid competition with Thursday Night Football, rebranding the postgame shows as the NBA on TNT Postgame Show starting in January.
2021: Sports Emmy Awards for Inside the NBA in 2021
In 2021, Inside the NBA continued its award-winning streak, earning Sports Emmy Awards for best weekly show, best weekly show – limited run, and another individual award for Ernie Johnson.
2022: Jamal Crawford Replaces Dwyane Wade
For the 2022–23 season, Jamal Crawford replaced Dwyane Wade as an analyst on NBA on TNT Tuesdays after Wade chose to focus on other business interests.
2022: Draymond Green Joins as Analyst
In 2022, Draymond Green was added to TNT's analyst roster for Inside the NBA while still an active player.
2022: Sports Emmy Awards for Inside the NBA in 2022
In 2022, Inside the NBA won Sports Emmy Awards for best weekly show and best weekly show – limited run, maintaining its reputation for excellence.
2022: Contract Renewals for Analysts
Prior to the 2022–23 season, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announced contract renewals for all four main panelists of Inside the NBA, including a 10-year extension for Charles Barkley.
2023: Inside the NBA Wins Eighteen Sports Emmy Awards by 2023
By the end of 2023, Inside the NBA had won eighteen Sports Emmy Awards. This included six awards for best daily show, six for best weekly show, four for best weekly show – limited run, one for best decoration and art visuals, and one for best social TV experience. Individual awards were also won by Johnson and Barkley.
2023: Malika Andrews Borrows Segment Name
In 2023, Malika Andrews borrowed the name 'EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night' while appearing on Tip-Off during the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals, with Ernie Johnson's blessing.
2023: Who He Play For? Game with Stephen A. Smith
In 2023, Stephen A. Smith participated in the 'Who He Play For?' game on Inside the NBA during the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals.
2023: TNT and ESPN Collaboration for NBA In-Season Tournament
In 2023, ahead of the knockout stage of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, TNT and ESPN announced a collaborative effort for coverage. This involved cross-appearances between the Inside the NBA cast and NBA Countdown members. Johnson, Kenny Smith, Barkley, and O'Neal appeared on Countdown, while Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, and Bob Myers appeared on Tip-Off. Stephen A. Smith and Wilbon also appeared on Inside the NBA.
