Watch: Snoop Dogg, Giannis Antetokounmpo share wholesome messages about what 'Inside the NBA' means to them
Following the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, an air of uncertainty hung over the future of “Inside the NBA.” The show will return for the 2024-25 season but every basketball fan is hoping it will not be its last rodeo. If Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company, can’t secure media rights, “Inside the NBA” will have its last dance.
On Monday, TNT Sports announced that it had decided to exercise the “matching rights provision” in its contract with the NBA. The network reportedly submitted a $1.8 billion offer to the league, the same amount Amazon had put on the negotiating table. Everyone will wait for Adam Silver to say something about the media rights talks.
While closed-door meetings will happen, basketball fans including Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Snoop Dogg shared what the show means to them.
Here’s what the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” hitmaker said about the award-winning program:
“Everybody brings their own style to the table. You can be you. He can be him. They can be them and it all comes together. You got a magical show.”
The Golden State Warriors franchise cornerstone tossed in his thoughts:
“You look forward to the jokes and the back and forth. Races to the big screen with Kenny [Smith] and all that. It just adds an element of entertainment.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo gave his take on “Inside the NBA:”
“Inside the NBA is one of the shows that whenever I catch it on TV, I try to watch for like 5 or 10 minutes just because it’s really fun. It’s not just about basketball. … They’re having fun. They’re teasing one another.”
Mark Cuban called the program “synonymous with the NBA and really a big part of the heartbeat of the NBA.” Basketball fans are hoping the league and the network can reach a new agreement. A big part of hoops culture will go out the window if a deal does not go through.
Magic Johnson and Giannis Antetokounmpo gave “Inside the NBA’s” Charles Barkley his props
Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley are the co-hosts of “Inside the NBA.” Each of them brings a unique part that makes the show so authentic and fun. Barkley, though, seems to be the biggest character among the four.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had this to say about what Barkley means to the show:
“Charles Barkley is so unique because I think he doesn’t have no filter. He’s going to speak the truth. He’s going to speak whatever is on his mind.”
LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson commented:
“They just keeps getting better and better every single year. The best on TV is Charles Barkley, bar none. There’s nobody on TV in sports better than Charles Barkley.
“Inside the NBA” has clearly become bigger than basketball. They don’t even have to talk about the sport and fans will tune in to watch the co-hosts. Hopefully, the league decides to keep them on the air for more years.