Kenny Smith could be the odd man out.
As the fate of “Inside the NBA” is uncertain with TNT potentially losing its NBA rights, Smith is “vulnerable to being collateral damage” in the fallout, according to Puck.
Smith, a two-time NBA champion with the Rockets and a former North Carolina star, is part of TNT’s four-man crew alongside Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and host Ernie Johnson.
“Smith, who played at North Carolina in the early ’80s and supported the Olajuwon Rockets in the ’90s, 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 may be the last for TNT, with NBC on the verge of acquiring the “B” package rights that TNT’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, owned.
Without an NBA package, there would be no need for “Inside the NBA,” and that has led to plenty of speculation about what the future holds for Barkley, O’Neal, Smith and Johnson.
Puck reports there’s a “great deal of interest” in the future of TNT’s talent, especially at NBC and Amazon, which may land the “C” package.
The “Inside the NBA” crew is universally beloved, a rare thing in the social media era where critics can fire off 280-character tweets at will.
Barkley reportedly will be heavily pursued by networks, and some networks will long to also court O’Neal so the duo can continue their frenemies routine.
The Sports Business Journal reported that Johnson will stay with TNT, regardless of what happens.
Networks seemingly are not as enamored with Smith, which could lead to him being replaced.
Draymond Green, who already contributes “Inside the NBA,” is among those who could be courted for expanded roles, along with Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and Grant Hill, per Puck.
Smith, 59, understandably seemed to be on edge about the situation earlier this week when he scolded New York Times Tania Ganguli about an interview with Barkley.
“She should clear it through Turner,” Smith said. “She should do it the right way.”