Shaquille O’Neal Signs Major Deal with TNT, Secures Future on ESPN

NEW YORK, NY — Shaquille O'Neal has reached a lucrative long-term agreement with TNT Sports, reportedly worth over $15 million per year, confirming his continued presence on the network’s flagship NBA program, Inside the NBA. The deal comes as part of TNT’s licensing agreement with ESPN, allowing the acclaimed show to make the transition to ESPN next season, ensuring O’Neal and his co-stars remain a staple in basketball broadcasting.

This agreement allows TNT to exchange the rights for Inside the NBA in return for Big 12 college football and basketball games, as first reported by Front Office Sports. Since debuting on the show in 2011 after a successful 19-year playing career, O’Neal has become an essential part of the program’s chemistry and charm.

Charles Barkley, another key figure in the Inside the NBA ensemble, currently earns $21 million per year due to a 10-year contract extension signed in 2022. Despite receiving offers from other networks, including NBC and Amazon, Barkley has chosen to stay with Turner Sports. “I’m gonna cancel future meetings with Amazon. … My heart is always and will be at Turner Sports,” Barkley remarked during a recent episode of their Steam Room podcast.

Kenny “The Jet” Smith is also expected to sign a multi-year deal to stay with TNT, reinforcing the show’s core team. With the production remaining in Atlanta, co-host Ernie Johnson is seen as a key fixture, solidifying the ensemble’s stability ahead of the show’s transition to ESPN.

Sources indicate that O’Neal’s substantial contract could influence the ongoing competitive landscape as NBC and Amazon seek to sign prominent NBA talent for their upcoming broadcasts. NBC is rumored to announce new hires soon, reinforcing its presence in the basketball commentary arena.

The new arrangement will officially take effect for the 2025-2026 season, as major changes are expected in NBA broadcasting rights, with key players like O’Neal, Barkley, and Smith remaining at the forefront of sports media. Meanwhile, discussions regarding the salaries of sports media figures continue to highlight the lucrative nature of this evolving sector.

Tom Brady leads the pack as the highest-paid sports broadcaster with $37.5 million per year at Fox Sports, while top earners at ESPN, such as Stephen A. Smith and Troy Aikman, secure deals valued in the millions. O’Neal’s return to a new network, alongside his high-profile colleagues, emphasizes the ongoing evolution of sports commentary as networks jostle for viewer attention and continued relevance.