“Even though the name changes, the engine stays the same… We’re not coming to f— around. We’re kicking a–, we’re taking names, we’re taking over.” Now that’s Shaquille O’Neal for you—straight to the point, no sugarcoating. As fans tearfully said goodbye to NBA on TNT, Shaq’s bold message made one thing clear: though the platform is shifting, Inside the NBA’s soul remains intact. That’s right—Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley are sticking together.
The whispers circulated: Would Shaq move on? Would Barkley call it quits? But when you’ve been part of something iconic for so long, walking away isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. That raises a question fans often wonder but rarely explore: When did Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal actually join Inside the NBA?
Charles Barkley stepped into the broadcast world not long after hanging up his jersey in the 1999–2000 season. According to a piece by the LA Times, Turner Sports made it official in March 2000, signing him on as a studio analyst for both TNT and TBS. That move brought Barkley on board for the 2000–01 season as a regular face on Inside the NBA.
A TNT press release confirmed his role, stating Barkley “has hosted Inside the NBA since joining TNT in 2000”. So yes, his first appearance came in the fall of 2000, and he’s been a mainstay ever since. In fact, in 2022, he inked a massive 10-year extension to stay on—talk about commitment.
Shaquille O’Neal followed suit nearly a decade later. Shortly after retiring in 2011, Shaq jumped into the analyst seat. Come mid-July of that year, TNT announced a multi-year deal, officially welcoming him to the team. A report from the Associated Press dated July 14, 2011, revealed that O’Neal “agreed… to become an analyst on [Turner’s] NBA coverage,” joining Ernie, Kenny, and Charles as the fourth chair.
February 24, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; TNT anchor Kenny Smith introduces Team Shaq general manager Shaquille O’Neal and Team Chuck general manager Charles Barkley before the BBVA rising stars challenge at the Amway Center in Orlando. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Shaquille O’Neal’s first run with the show started with the 2011–12 NBA season. And as fans would remember, that season didn’t just mark his debut—it also gave birth to one of the most beloved segments on the show: Shaqtin’ a Fool.
So if you’ve ever wondered when these two legends became part of your basketball nights, now you know—they’ve been holding it down for years, and judging by their passion, they’re not done yet. If anything, they have only grown into their roles.
How have Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal’s roles evolved on Inside the NBA?
If you’re a longtime Inside viewer, you know how much the show has evolved—yet two constants remain: Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. As Awful Announcing pointed out, when Barkley joined back in the 2000s, the show shifted gears. It moved away from being just another highlight reel. One commentator nailed it by saying Barkley “helped Inside become far more than a sports show,” and once Shaq stepped in, it turned into “something of a variety show, geared as much to entertainment as basketball.”
You can probably guess what that looked like. Instead of just breaking down games, the focus began tilting toward the laughs, the chemistry, and that unpredictable banter among Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Barkley, and Shaq. Barkley even considered stepping away in 2012 and again later on—but ultimately, he chose to stick around. And in case you missed it, ESPN reported in August 2024 that he’s planning to stay until his current deal, signed in 2022, runs out in ten years.
That kind of commitment speaks volumes. Shaq, on his end, needed a little time to adjust. There were reports of early tension, but he’s since grown into the show’s fun-loving, magnetic fourth voice. A key factor: producers like Tim Kiely ditched teleprompters and encouraged unscripted conversation.
Thanks to that raw format, Barkley and Shaq have been able to let their real personalities shine through. Barkley keeps it real with that trademark bluntness, while Shaq cranks up the laughs and spectacle. Together, they’ve turned Inside the NBA into a cultural force—so much so that other networks have tried to imitate the formula, but let’s be honest, no one’s quite matched TNT’s magic mix of insight, comedy, and chemistry.
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