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[Saba Sports News] Rumors of Shaquille O’Neal leaving the Inside the NBA crew have been dispelled, as the Basketball Hall of Famer is reportedly close to finalizing a contract extension with TNT Sports.
According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, the extension will ensure O’Neal remains part of the award-winning show when it transitions to ESPN during the 2025-26 season, following a recent settlement between ESPN and TNT.
O’Neal, 52, has been a staple of the show’s iconic lineup—alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley—since 2011. However, uncertainty surrounded his future with Inside the NBA due to his separate contract structure.
Unlike his co-hosts, O’Neal’s current deal is exclusively for NBA duties and is set to expire on July 1. With TNT losing NBA broadcast rights after this season, speculation arose about Shaq potentially leaving the program.
Instead, the four-man crew appears poised to stay intact with O’Neal’s pending extension. Despite the positive news, some fans have voiced concerns that Inside the NBA could lose some of its unique charm with the shift to ESPN.
For now, O’Neal’s continued presence signals stability for one of basketball’s most beloved shows as it prepares for a new chapter.