Overview
- ESPN announced Thursday that Inside the NBA will run 25 regular-season episodes this year, up from 20 last season.
- The network front-loaded the schedule by placing the show on the first five ESPN dates and adding multiple pre-Christmas airings to reduce long gaps seen last year.
- The TNT-produced studio program will continue to feature Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, giving fans more regular-season appearances from the core team.
- Charles Barkley has told reporters this may be his final season, a development that creates near-term uncertainty about the show's long-term lineup.
- ESPN is carrying the show under a licensing deal after Warner Bros. Discovery lost NBA rights, and corporate changes at Warner Bros. Discovery could influence future production and playoff scheduling.