Something curious is happening in the NBA broadcasting booth.  The in-season tournament is even getting its star analysts involved in the high-stakes competition. Reggie Miller left fans scratching their heads with a single line.  The retired NBA pro-turned-analyst’s cryptic comment has given reason to speculate something big is coming in the in-season tournament finals.

TNT analyst, Reggie Miller was doing his regular job commentating the Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns game. During it, he made a statement that nearly slipped under the radar. Until fans pointed it out. “They’re trading me to ‘S-Pen,'” he said. That’s code for ESPN. It raised several questions among viewers. Is he jumping ship? Another joint sportscasting drama in the works? Let’s find out.

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Turns out there is some truth to what he said, but not in the way one would imagine.

NBA on TNT fans have been joking for some time now that Turner should ship him to ESPN. So, when Miller dropped his comment, some questioned if he was really switching over to the other side for good.

For a brief second, social media users mildly speculated Reggie Miller had enough of his TNT mates and was leaving. But the regular TNT and ESPN broadcasts are expected to resume after the in-season tournament.

However,  that is not the case, and the NBA is just mixing it up on the broadcasting end, too, with a blended ESPN and TNT broadcast on December 7. Those who were hoping for this to be a permanent arrangement are going to be disappointed. It’s a temporary arrangement for the In-Season Tournament semifinals.

The networks are doing an analyst swap. While they already revealed the special broadcasting lineups, the game announcement teams have finally been revealed. Reggie Miller will call the game on ESPN with Mike Breen and Doris Burke, joined by Lisa Salters reporting courtside.

NBA keeps the season interesting

The inaugural In-Season Tournament was as confusing to analysts as much as the fans were baffled about the format. The day the schedule for the multi-faceted joint broadcast was released on November 28, even Charles Barkley needed a breakdown from Ernie Johnson. Remember, the NBA commissioner had tried to explain it to him way back in June already.

Barkley and his fellow Inside the NBA crew will have ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in the TNT booth during the semis. The combination of the most unfiltered sportscasters in one segment is worth looking forward to.

Meanwhile, Charles Barkley is commending NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for incentivizing very intense matchups early in the regular season. The NBA unveiled the shiny Tiffany & Co. creations that will be awarded to the winners of the In-Season Tournament. The new hardware comprises a cup, an MVP trophy, medals for the individual players, and crystal basketballs for the five members of the In-Season All-Tournament team.

From the special broadcast schedule to the trophies, what part of the In-Season Tournament is piquing your interest?

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