"Inside the NBA" Thrives During Its Historic Finals Debut

Ernie Johnson, the long-time host of "Inside the NBA," has witnessed countless memorable moments in his 34-year career, but the postgame show from Madison Square Garden on Wednesday may top them all. This came after the New York Knicks achieved the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4. Johnson remarked, "That’s the best. None of the fans are leaving. They just want to soak this whole thing in. It was like a college atmosphere. And then to do the show right there with that energy going on, that’s why you do it."

As the finals progress, Johnson, along with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith, is relishing the opportunity to anchor NBA Finals coverage for the first time. This season marked "Inside the NBA" moving to ESPN and ABC due to a licensing agreement with TNT Sports, following Warner Bros. Discovery's loss of NBA rights. The show’s transition has significantly enhanced ESPN and ABC's basketball broadcasts, similar to the impact Joe Buck and Troy Aikman had on "Monday Night Football" in 2022.

The Finals will continue Saturday night in San Antonio, with the Knicks just one win away from capturing their first championship since 1973. Johnson is set to present the Lawrence O’Brien trophy at the conclusion of the series, and he believes a potential Game 6 victory for the Knicks at home could rival the excitement of Wednesday's comeback.

Burke Magnus, president of content at ESPN, praised the seamless transition, stating, "Having Ernie, Chuck, Shaq and Kenny anchor our NBA Finals coverage, in tandem with our outstanding game broadcast team, has elevated our entire presentation." The show now features a 90-minute pregame segment, with the first hour airing on ESPN before switching to ABC for the remainder. The postgame analysis kicks off on ESPN immediately after ABC's coverage wraps up.

Mike Breen, calling his 21st finals, appreciates having "Inside the NBA" as a lead-in, noting, "They’re must-see TV even after all these years. They have so much fun, and because of their status in the league, what they say really matters." Johnson expressed excitement about the finals atmosphere, recalling an eagerness he hadn't felt in years as he arrived at the San Antonio arena for Game 1.

Despite airing on a different network, "Inside the NBA" retains its signature style, produced in Atlanta by TNT Sports. This season has not shied away from its trademark humor, as evident when Barkley criticized the Spurs, labeling them "the dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization." With the Finals drawing record viewership, the series is averaging 19.6 million viewers, a significant increase from last year’s matchup, positioning it to be the most-watched finals since 1998.