'Inside the NBA' Giving Fans What They Want During Conference Finals
One of the things NBA fans have loved most about "Inside the NBA" over the decade-plus history of the show is the long-form, free-flowing conversations that are had by Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O'Neal and host Ernie Johnson.
But that hasn't happened as much on ESPN.
ESPN is a different network than TNT and commercial times, segment times and things like that are different. However, during the Eastern Conference Finals, "Inside the NBA" will be giving fans what they want.
According to a report by Ryan Glasspiegel in Front Office Sports, "Inside the NBA" producers will allow the show to run for "as long as TNT's producers decide" during the Eastern Conference Finals.
The show will still air on ESPN, but TNT will get to decide how long it airs during the Knicks vs. Cavs series.
Details emerge from 'Inside the NBA' plans
Glasspiegel had more details on the show's conference finals plans:
- Every ECF game will have a one-hour pregame show, except for Game 3 on Sat. May 23, which is on ABC.
- Halftime of every game
- Postgame shows will air on ESPN for as long as TNT's producers decide for them to. ESPN has allotted an hour after each game, but they can go longer at TNT's discretion.
- For the ABC game, the first half-hour of the postgame will be on ABC, and it can go longer on ESPN if TNT producers wish.
- Draymond Green will have guest appearances on two nights during the ECF.
"As Inside the NBA has transitioned to ESPN under its licensing deal with TNT Sports, some critics have been unhappy that it does not run as long in the postgame as it did previously. However, the length of the show has remained under the purview of TNT producers, and an ESPN spokesperson confirmed to FOS that Scott Van Pelt's SportsCenter programs can be pushed back as long as TNT wants to keep its NBA show going," he added.
It'll be fun to watch.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM.