‘This is really special’ – Emotional Shaq wipes away tears as Ernie Johnson delivers heartfelt speech

Inside the NBA is airing its final season on TNT before it moves to ESPN/ABC, and during an emotional speech delivered by Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t bother hiding his emotions.  The NBA legend and Hall of Famer was caught crying on camera in the middle of the playoffs.  Inside the NBA is one of America’s most popular sports programs across any league.  The studio show features Johnson as the host with Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and O’Neal as the three former basketball players turned analysts

It was confirmed earlier this year that the program would move to ESPN after a settlement between Warner Bro Discovery, which owns TNT, and the NBA.  The settlement came after TNT were unable to secure the rights to the NBA after the league agreed to a new 11-year $76 billion deal with ESPN/ABC, Amazon and NBC.  That new deal put the show at risk of collapsing, but TNT will now produce the show and license it to ESPN.

Despite the fact that Johnson, Barkley, Smith and O’Neal are all expected to remain on the screen next year, a tribute was paid to TNT and its staff ahead of the move to ESPN.  “This is really special…This is the greatest family in TV history right here,” Johnson said after their 30-year run on TNT came to an end.  Johnson’s remarks come a month after he gave a speech following the close of the regular season.  “One of the most gratifying things about the whole process is this: We start the NBA on TNT back in 1989, and then we become synonymous with the league,” an emotional Johnson said.

O’Neal has been a regular presence on the show

“For the fans out there, they think NBA, they think NBA on TNT. That’s why it hurts tonight—to know that’s gone after this next playoff run, and that’s the business of basketball, I guess.”  Inside the NBA first aired in 1989, with Johnson becoming the host in 1990.  Smith was the first of the current three to join Johnson before Barkley joined in 2000 and was roasted on his debut.  O’Neal joined the program in 2011 to complete the iconic lineup.

Since the early 200s, the show has been rated among the best sports programs on American television.  It’s picked up a whopping 19 Emmys as a result of its efforts.  Viewers won’t have to worry about a major difference in the experience of the show after Johnson confirmed that the same crew will produce the program.  “Yeah, this is the plan,” Johnson told The Dan Patrick Show.

“We’re going to continue to do the show, but it’s just not going to air on TNT because the NBA on TNT is no more after these playoffs.  “But we’ll still do the show in Atlanta; still do with the same production crew; it will just air on ABC/ESPN on certain nights.”  Patrick also asked Johnson if he would have stayed on the show if it was no longer produced out of Atlanta.  “No,” Johnson said. “That’s home.”