Key facts
- The "Inside the NBA" broadcast team is covering the NBA Finals on ESPN and ABC for the first time.
- The show moved to ESPN/ABC after Warner Bros. Discovery lost NBA broadcast rights.
- The current NBA Finals coverage has seen a significant increase in viewership.
- Wednesday's Game 4 comeback was the most-watched Game 4 on ABC since 2003.
- The series is on track to be the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998.
The broadcast team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith is experiencing their first NBA Finals coverage on ESPN and ABC, following the move of "Inside the NBA" due to TNT Sports' inability to retain NBA broadcast rights. Johnson described the atmosphere after the New York Knicks' historic comeback win in Game 4 as "like a college atmosphere" and relished doing the postgame show from center court at Madison Square Garden.
ESPN's president of content, Burke Magnus, stated that the addition of the "Inside the NBA" crew has elevated their NBA coverage, drawing parallels to the impact of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on "Monday Night Football." Mike Breen, calling his record 21st NBA Finals, praised the show as "must-see TV" and expressed deep respect for Johnson's hosting abilities.
The transition has been seamless, with TNT Sports still producing the show from Atlanta, maintaining its irreverent style. Barkley's strong criticism of the Spurs after their Game 4 collapse, calling them "the dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization," exemplifies the show's continued willingness to be critical.
The move to ESPN and ABC has coincided with a significant surge in viewership. Wednesday night's Game 4 comeback averaged 20.9 million viewers, peaking at 23.2 million, making it the most-watched Game 4 since ABC began broadcasting the finals in 2003. The series is averaging 19.6 million viewers, a 116% increase from the previous year, and is on pace to be the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998.