Inside the NBA Debuts on ESPN

If you’re worried about the transition of “Inside the NBA” to ESPN changing the show too much, you can breathe easy now.

The beloved crew of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal returned to the small screen on Wednesday night, kicking off the 2025-26 NBA season on the new channel.

There were some fears that moving to the Disney-owned network might alter the show’s vibe, but the quartet seemed to maintain the same fun and lively spirit that has defined the show during its impressive 36-year run on TNT.

As Johnson began the intro with a sing-song voice, O’Neal jumped in, humorously saying, “I did it wrong.” He suggested that he should’ve instead stated, “This is Tron.”

“It’s the real opening night,” O’Neal later explained, eliciting laughter from the audience. “That was yesterday. No, no, no. The players are back in town. Today is the real opening day. Yesterday was just preseason.”

O’Neal was alluding to the NBA’s return to NBC, which is set to air nationally for the season kick-off.

Additionally, during ESPN’s inaugural “Inside the NBA” episode, producers shared a montage of Barkley joking about the network switch. He mentioned on the air that he had been “nervous all day” leading up to this first show.

“Everyone who’s ever touched a ball has wanted to be on ESPN. It’s the greatest sports network ever, and I’m honored to work for them,” he said.

Smith chimed in cheekily at one point, asking Barkley, “Do you want a napkin for the kiss I just gave you?”

A funny moment also included a Photoshopped image of Barkley engaging in a comedic act, where he was seen kissing a donkey’s rear with ESPN’s branding on it.

“Inside the NBA” is still collaborating with TNT Sports, having moved to ESPN as part of a licensing deal that allows the network to air the show. However, based on the premiere, it seems like the primary difference is merely the channel it’s now on.