In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Knicks fans — Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller lit up Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a viral moment. Chalamet, a lifelong basketball fan, finally came face-to-face with Inside the NBA legend Ernie Johnson — and right beside them, Charles Barkley watched on with a proud smile as Chalamet delivered the line he’d been teasing in interviews for years.

“I’m playing you in the biopic!” Chalamet repeated it to make sure Johnson heard him loud and clear. The veteran broadcaster beamed, replying, “You have made me the coolest grandpa of all time!”

But the real highlight came moments later when Charles Barkley, standing nearby, chimed in with a warm smile: “Thank you for taking care of my boy, Ernie.”. Cherry on top? Chalamet’s excited, “I’m trying, I’m trying” to follow up on Charles’s praise.

For Barkley, “my boy” isn’t just a phrase. He and Ernie have spent over three decades together on Inside the NBA, forming one of the most beloved duos in sports broadcasting. Their bond runs deep — through on-air laughs, off-air support, and personal hardships. Barkley’s comment wasn’t just sweet. It was real. And it reminded everyone what that TNT desk is really built on: love, loyalty, and a whole lot of heart.

Their friendship has weathered everything: Ernie Johnson’s public battle with cancer, Charles Barkley’s personal lows, and the nonstop grind of 82-game seasons. Whether they’re clowning around with Shaq or breaking down playoff drama with Kenny, the respect between them grounds the chaos. That’s why fans don’t just watch Inside the NBA—they feel it.

All that history, all that heart—it’s why this next bit hits so hard. Because change is coming.

Inside the NBA Is More Than Just a Show

The timing couldn’t have been more poetic. That courtside moment—Chalamet cracking jokes, Barkley showing love, Ernie lighting up—wasn’t just a charming celebrity run-in. It was a snapshot of something bigger. A reminder of what makes Inside the NBA special, just as the show stands at a major crossroads.

After 35 unforgettable seasons on TNT, the curtain’s closing. The Eastern Conference Finals mark the end of an era—Inside the NBA is saying goodbye to the only network it’s ever called home.

Starting next season, the show that redefined how we talk about basketball is moving to ESPN and ABC. Thanks to a rare handshake between Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney, Inside the NBA will keep its entire crew—Ernie, Chuck, Kenny, and Shaq. Even the production team stays the same, still run by TNT Sports.

That means new audiences, primetime Finals coverage, and the same chaotic brilliance fans have grown up with. But if it all feels a little heavy right now, that’s fair. These final TNT episodes aren’t just another broadcast—they’re a goodbye to a piece of sports TV history.

And that’s why the little things—like Charles Barkley saying “my boy” with tears behind the grin—hit deeper. Because when it comes down to it, Inside the NBA was never just about basketball. It was always about family.