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NBA On TNT Releases Classy Goodbye Message

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 12:05 PM ET

TNT responded to the end of a fruitful partnership with the NBA.

On Saturday, TNT broadcast its last NBA game when the Indiana Pacers closed out the Eastern Conference Finals with a Game 6 victory over the New York Knicks. The NBA moves to NBC and Amazon Prime Video next season, but TNT will keep producing Inside The NBA for an ESPN simulcast.

TNT Sports shared a statement from CEO and Chairman Luis Silberwasser following the end of TNT's NBA coverage.

"It has been a privilege to be associated with the NBA over that span, building what undoubtedly will be considered one of the greatest partnerships in the history of sports media," Silberwasser said. "Every time we went on the air, our TNT Sports production team and world-class talent strived to elevate and redefine the way fans watched the NBA. In many ways, the NBA on TNT and Inside The NBA became synonymous with the league."

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— TNT Sports U.S. PR (@TNTSportsUS) June 2, 2025

Silberwasser expressed appreciation to fans and wished the NBA luck.

"We have been thrilled to often exceed the expectations of the fans we serve — a testament to the amazingly talented TNT Sports team — and our fans have rewarded us with their loyalty and appreciation. For that, we are incredibly proud and very grateful," Silberwasser added. "We wish the league much success in the years to come and we look forward to continuing to produce Inside the NBA. Most importantly, to our fans, we say thank you."

TNT began televising NBA games during the 1989-90 season. Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley have worked on Inside The NBA for the last 25 years, and Shaquille O'Neal joined the studio show in 2011.

Those four will continue to host Inside The NBA on ESPN next year. Smith and O'Neal gave the new network a taste of what to expect when cursing on the final post-game show, but the crew also shared emotional sendoffs to TNT.

"I just want to say thank you to the NBA," Barkley said. "Every coach I've had, every player I've played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I'm lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we'll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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