Supply: Boston Globe / Getty
Ernie Johnson is the senior statesman of TNT. The sports activities persona has been on the community for 35 years, so it was becoming that he was the one who made the ultimate sign-off for the community’s Contained in the NBA present.
The visibly emotional Johnson,68, stated, “If I had written the script, the NBA and TNT could be collectively ceaselessly. It’s not going to occur, however whereas I used to be disenchanted, I used to be unhappy, I used to be not bitter. We all know how enterprise works. Gratitude is the operative phrase for me.”
Johnson has cause to be grateful because the longest-running host of the present. He has hosted Contained in the NBA since its inception in 1990. Kenny “The Jet” Smith has the next-longest tenure, becoming a member of the present in 1998. Barkley and O’Neal got here on in 2000 and 2011, respectively, forming the nucleus that arguably reshaped sports activities tv. The chemistry between the quartet is one of the best combine on sports activities tv, one thing that the Sports activities Emmys have acknowledged with 21 general awards.
Fox’s NFL Sunday is essentially the most comparable present within the NFL, however regardless of large personalities like Michael Strahan and others, it didn’t fairly hit the sports activities and popular culture zeitgeist as strongly as Contained in the NBA did. (And this yr, it loses longtime hosts Howie Lengthy and Jimmy Johnson.) The mixture of chemistry, basketball evaluation, scorching takes, memes, jokes, pranks, and generally disagreements has made it one of many extra genuine reveals on sports activities TV, which explains a lot of its enchantment.
The present will proceed from the identical manufacturing studio in Atlanta, with the identical producers, however will air on ESPN. This transfer is a part of the fallout from TNT dropping its broadcast rights to NBC, which can air the NBA once more after 24 years. TNT was the NBA’s most important broadcast accomplice from 1989 – 2025 and Contained in the NBA was a significant a part of that.
“Although the identify adjustments, the engine stays the identical,” O’Neal stated on the final broadcast after the Pacers beat the Knicks in Recreation 6 of the Jap Convention Finals to advance to the NBA Finals. “To that new community we’re coming to, we’re not coming to f— round. And because it’s the final present, I’ll say it: We’re not coming to f-ck round. We’re kicking ass, we’re taking names, we’re taking on.”
Barkley was wooed by different networks, however he finally determined to stick with Contained in the NBA. He thanked TNT for the “great journey.”
“I simply need to say thanks to the NBA,” he stated. “Each coach I’ve had, each participant I’ve performed with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had,” he stated. “I’m so fortunate and blessed. I’m fortunate and blessed. And I need to thank TNT. Although we’ll by no means say TNT Sports activities once more, I need to thank TNT for giving me a powerful life.”
And with that, Johnson signed off for the final time on TNT.
“I’m proud to say, for the final time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT.’”
You may watch the ultimate broadcast above or relive a number of the most memorable and humorous on-air moments over time under.
Followers Shares The Funniest ‘Contained in the NBA’ Moments As Present Indicators Off TNT For Final Time
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