The NBA clearly wanted its All-Star Game to feel more intense, with players actually taking it seriously this year. But here’s the thing — in the middle of the final All-Star game at the Warriors’ Chase Center, the league paused for 18 minutes to honor TNT’s The Inside Crew hosts Ernie Johnson, Shaquile O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. Talk about taking the air out of the moment!
The tribute was full of surprises. Each crew member received three gifts: a signed jersey, an All-Star ring, and some fishing gear—an obvious shoutout to their hilarious “Gone Fishin’” segment, where they poke fun at the teams eliminated from the playoffs. Afterward, the four legends shared their thoughts on the moment.
“Legends that have made the game of basketball nothing short of amazing. And of course, I’m talking about Ernie. I’m talking about Chuck. I’m talking about King. I’m talking about. Three guys. That I’ve had the liberty of sitting next to. That I’ve had delivered here.” announced Kevin Hart as they were presented signed jerseys and rings.
To which Shaq replied, “I know, we’re leaving, but I only have one question, why are you not entertained? And saying where you got entertained?”. Even when the moment was about him and the TNT crew, Big Diesel’s first priority was crowd’s entertainment. The 2025 All-Star Weekend was the final time we saw the original ‘Inside the NBA’ crew on TNT. After the NBA new deal with Amazon, TNT is no longer a broadcaster of the NBA. Which means no more Shaqtin’ a fool.
It’s a bittersweet end, and fans are already feeling the impact of losing such an iconic team. The energy they brought was unmatched, and it’s going to be tough to replace.
Ernie thanked the fans in his address, “It’s been a 40-year relationship, Turner Broadcasting, TBS, TNT, and the NBA. And it’s been special every second along the way. Because of you, the fans. Dear, the players. The fact that we get to do this, it’s a get-to job, not a got-to job, and it’s been our pleasure every second. Thank you very much.”. Johnson’s voice and warmth. The crew’s chemistry, especially Ernie’s quick wit and calming presence, made watching the show feel like hanging out with old friends.
This is a developing story…
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