TNT'S Inside the NBA has the chance of losing a key star from the program.
Kenny "The Jet" Smith could be the odd man out of Inside the NBA amid the uncertainty of the long-running basketball show which looks set to end after the 2024-25 season.
Smith, a two-time NBA champion, has been a part of TNT's star-studded panel which includes Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and host Ernie Johnson.
But Inside the NBA's future remains in jeopardy with TNT set to lose the rights to show the NBA to NBC.
As a result, it's been reported by Puck that Smith is "vulnerable to being collateral damage" in the conflict.
"Smith ... is less recognizable than a cavalcade of more-recently retired pros,” Puck reported.
"CBS just made a similar move in replacing Boomer Esiason with Matt Ryan."
The 2024-25 NBA season could be the final one for TNT due to NBC being on the verge of receiving the "B" package rights that TNT's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, owned.
Puck also reported there's a "great deal of interest" in the future of TNT's star analysts.
The interest is reportedly coming from NBC and Amazon, which may acquire the "C" package.
The Emmy-winning sports show Inside the NBA has been a fan favorite thanks to its energetic analysis and commentating of the league's players and games.
Barkley has reportedly been pursued by networks.
Some of the networks will also attempt to sign O'Neal as he and Barkley often go back and forth in hilarious debates.
The Sports Business Journal reported that Johnson will remain with TNT, no matter what happens.
However, networks appear to not be as attracted to Smith, which could lead to him losing his broadcasting role.
Puck reported that Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, who already appears on Inside the NBA, is among numerous sports personalities who could be pursued for expanded roles for TNT.
Current NBA star Chris and former basketball legends Dwayne Wade and Grant Hill are among the candidates as well.
Inside the NBA first began in 1989, with Johnson taking the reigns as host in 1990.
Smith has appeared since 1998 while Barkley joined the show in 2000 and O'Neal signed to the program in 2011.
Inside the NBA's run on TNT Sports is in major doubt due to the NBA's broadcasting deals.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT's broadcast deal with the NBA is up after next season and NBC looks set to take those rights in a $2.6bn deal.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it raises serious questions over the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which snaps up the NBA rights.
TNT's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company has been left out of final negotiations for NBA rights from 2025 onwards.
NBC's package is reportedly coming in around $2.6 billion, up from an initial $2.5 billion, according to the Sports Business Journal report.
Sources revealed to the outlet that the NBA will accept NBC's final offer to Warner Bros. to see if they can match its total value.
