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Kenny Smith, Shaq challenge ESPN with NSFW callout during NBA on TNT goodbye: 'We ain't coming to f**k around'

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh06/01/25griffin_mcveigh
Inside the NBA
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TNT)

As the Pacers advance to the NBA Finals, one of the best aspects of the NBA comes to a close. Inside the NBA will be no more, at least on TNT. Everyone’s favorite pre and postgame show will be making the move to ESPN as the NBA broadcasting rights get a major shakeup next season.

Being the last show on TNT, Shaq and Kenny Smith decided to completely take off the filter. Both dropped f-bombs while live. Producers and higher-ups may have been sweating through the moments but Shaq and Smith made their points well known.

“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” Shaq said. “To that network we coming to, we not coming to eff around. Since this is the last show, I’m going to say it- we not coming to f*ck around.”

Smith followed by saying “And as Shaq said, we ain’t coming to f*ck around” to close out his remarks.

Thankfully, the four men on set are not going anywhere. ESPN and ABC will continue with Inside the NBA, a show nobody in the basketball world is hoping changes — including Charles Barkley. Very few people in the sports television space have the chemistry and provide the humor they do.

And right before signing off, they proved as such once again. Yes, some strong words were used but incredibly on brand for the show before switching networks.

Charles Barkley hoping Inside the NBA does not change

Charles Barkley doesn’t want Inside The NBA to change when it moves over to ESPN via licensing on the new NBA television deal. Barkley will now go over to the network, as he revealed he signed his contract.

He’s already been on TV for nearly three decades and he didn’t want to suddenly increase his media exposure. But it seems like Barkley is ready to do whatever it takes to keep the show how it is between him, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson.

“I don’t want us to change,” Barkley said on Beadle and Decker. “I mean, one reason the show’s been successful, honestly, I’ll tell you something. I just signed the contract this week. I told myself I’m not going to make a rash decision to just go over to ESPN … I don’t want our show to change.

“And I don’t want to start doing stupid stuff for TNT, because they’re gonna try to do some on TNT … I’m not exactly sure, because they don’t know what the hell is going on. I don’t know how many games we’re gonna do on ESPN, ABC, but they want to try to do something on Turner. And I was like, we’re not just gonna do something, just to do it, that’s just stupid.” 

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report