If anyone had worries that the “Inside the NBA” move to ESPN would change the show at all, they can put that to bed.

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal returned to the airwaves for the beloved NBA studio show on Wednesday night as the Worldwide Leader opened its 2025-26 slate of games.

And while there had been some concern that the show’s move to the Disney-owned sports network would mean unwelcome changes, the four seemed to bring the same energy and humor that made up the program’s 36-year run on TNT.

Almost immediately after Johnson made his way through his intro, O’Neal interjected that he “didn’t do it right” and that he should have said “this is T-R-O-N.”

'Inside the NBA' is officially on ESPN.

Good luck figuring out the sponsor. 🏀 📺 🎙️ #NBA

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