Carmelo Anthony rues Inside the NBA's imminent demise amid new NBA media rights deal: "I blame the higher-ups"
Carmelo Anthony expressed his disappointment over the end of "Inside the NBA" following the NBA's new media rights deal with ESPN/ABC, NBCU and Amazon Prime Video, a $76 billion, 11-year contract. He felt the abrupt break with TNT was unfair, given its role in building the NBA brand.
In an episode of “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & Kid Mero,” the retired NBA forward blamed the league's executives for the decision to move away from TNT. (Start at 2:26)
“Even if the contract is up, let's sit and talk about how we move this somewhere else. But I honestly blame the higher-ups for that, man,” Carmelo Anthony said.
“You can't be here with us all this time creating this and building this property, and then we're not being told what's actually happening here, like, we don't have a shot to keep this going after 10 years.”
Losing NBA rights is a significant blow to TNT, which has been broadcasting the league since 1988.
The network's iconic "Inside the NBA" show, featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson, is now in jeopardy. (Start at 2:00)
“I would be upset too if I was Charles Barkley…We built this s**t. We created what's ‘Inside the NBA.’ We created the vibes and what everybody goes to. They're not going to ESPN for this right here. They're part of the brand, so how can you exclude us out of what's happening?” Anthony said.
Carmelo Anthony Says ‘Inside the NBA’ Shaped Current NBA Culture
Carmelo Anthony admitted on the same podcast that he hated "Inside the NBA" as a player because he could end up on "Shaqtin' a Fool" and be criticized by its hosts. However, he acknowledged that the show significantly influenced the league's culture. (Start at 1:34)
“That group of guys, that culture, what they created is part of the NBA culture,” he said. “So the memes and s**t, yeah, it's just like, we look forward to that even though we hate that st sometimes as a player.”
"Inside the NBA" started in 1989, the same year TNT began airing NBA games. Ernie Johnson became the show's first permanent host the following year and has remained in that role ever since. Kenny Smith joined in 1998, Charles Barkley in 2000 and Shaquille O'Neal after his retirement in 2011.
The show is known for its recurring segments such as "Shaqtin' a Fool," highlighting the week's bloopers; "EJ's Neat-O Stat of the Night," famous for being "unsullied by sponsorship since 1989"; "Who He Play For," where Barkley is quizzed about NBA players who switched teams; and "Gone Fishin'," a segment for teams eliminated from the playoffs.