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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 05: TNT’s Inside the NBA team (L-R) NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal, host Ernie Johnson Jr., wearing an iGrow laser-based hair-growth helmet, and NBA analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk during a live telecast of “NBA on TNT” at CES 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 5, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 8 and features 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 05: TNT’s Inside the NBA team (L-R) NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal, host Ernie Johnson Jr., wearing an iGrow laser-based hair-growth helmet, and NBA analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk during a live telecast of “NBA on TNT” at CES 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 5, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 8 and features 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It’s easy to forget in the entire NBA media rights saga, that it’s not only Inside the NBA impacted. Jamal Crawford had only earned a permanent spot on TNT Tuesdays in the past season and launched his segment, ‘Craws’ed Up‘. Then Charles Barkley namedropped him in his retirement announcement with a promise to mentor Crawford to take his place. Now TNT has lost the NBA rights to Amazon and NBC and Barkley has canceled his retirement. So Crawford’s connection to TNT is still in limbo, with clues about what he’s doing next. However, during his appearance on The Underground Lounge, the crossover expert reassured fans.
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It’s the most he’s spoken about the NBA media rights situation yet and even the show’s hosts, Lou Williams and Spank Horton, are anxious about what’s going to happen to Inside the NBA. Crawford could empathize. “They’ve been like the soundtrack to our basketball lives,” Crawford told Williams on the podcast. “There’s people that come turn on TV just to watch them. Some don’t even watch the game, they would laugh at Chuck or Shaq or Ernie put ’em in their place or Kenny or whatever.”
The new TNT analyst calls losing the NBA to Amazon and NBC “weird.” Especially because Inside the NBA has been airing since 1989 and it has pop culture status. Crawford even makes the best comparison to explain it. “They’re The Golden Girls!” We can see the Golden Girls and Inside Guys parallels.
Blanche’s unintentional wordplay is as funny as Chuck struggling to spell ‘precautionary’ and the way they derail the end of the show game segments with their antics feels like the time the Golden Girls were on a game show. And Shaq’s totally a bigger, scarier Dorothy.
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MIAMI, FL – JUNE 7: Jamal Crawford reports on Game Three of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat on June 7, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images)
Williams agreed with Crawford, who said, “They’re a sitcom and the fact they bring so much joy to so many people it’s going to be disheartening.” But he adds, “I’m sure that’s not going to be last we see of them.” And Crawford has good reason to say that.
Inside the NBA is timeless to Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford went from occasional appearances to full-time analyst on TNT’s Tuesday panel alongside Shaquille O’Neal in the 2023-24 season. Shortly after the NBA media rights discussions were at their peak, Crawford was confident in TNT’s victory on The Pat McAfee Show where he dropped the Golden Girls reference again.
After Charles Barkley announced his retirement and said, “I’m going to pass the baton to either Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter,” Crawford had an emotional response to his statement and rightfully declared those are too big shoes to fill.
He can now wait on that a little longer. Though TNT has lost the NBA, Barkley has called off retirement and Turner has assured that Inside the NBA will continue. Note: Barkley only agreed to continue if everyone at TNT kept their jobs. A rebranding into a general sports show is in the works and Jamal Crawford looks intent on continuing along with Shaq and Chuck.
Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger
