Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal signs extension with TNT in new broadcasting deal

The Inside the NBA show will be distributed on ESPN from the next season.

Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Shaquille O’Neal has signed a long-term deal worth $15 million with TNT. The Hall of Fame center will remain a part of the Inside the NBA show, alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.

Shaquille O’Neal has an agreement in place for an enormous long-term deal with TNT Sports that will pay him over $15 million per year, per @MMcCarthyREV pic.twitter.com/zQQsvyQxyB
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 14, 2025

As per the reports of Front Office Sports, Shaquille O’Neal has completed an agreement with the broadcasting partner and signed a long-term deal with TN worth around $15 million per year. Meanwhile, his other colleagues on the show had already signed contract extensions.

Shaquille O’Neal remains in “Inside the NBA” show despite TNT losing broadcasting rights

The Inside the NBA show will be distributed on ESPN the next season in exchange for Big 12 college football and basketball games. NBC and Amazon joined ESPN in inking deals for basketball games following the NBA’s recent TV rights negotiations.

As per reports, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will remain in the “Inside the NBA” show. Barkley is getting interest from NBC and Amazon. However, the former NBA star is keen to join Turner Sports.

“I’m informing NBC that I will not accept their offer,” Barkley earlier said on the podcast. “I’m gonna cancel future meetings with Amazon. … My heart is always and will be at Turner Sports.”

"I'm listening to NBC and Amazon. I want to know everything that's on the table for me before I sign in… If we go to ESPN I got nothing but respect for those guys, but I'm not going to be doing ABC, ESPN and TNT."

-Charles Barkley discusses his future on television pic.twitter.com/oLQlMFssqE
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) December 18, 2024

CNBC reported that O’Neal also got offers from NBC and Amazon. Front Office Sports claims NBC is in contact with Carmelo Anthony for a studio analyst position and Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as color commentators.

Shaq O’Neal joins the elite company of the highest-paid sports media figures in the world. NFL legend, Tom Brady ($37.5 million) and former NBA star, Charles Barkley ($21 million) are currently the two highest-paid sports media figures.

Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Charles Barkley

Ernie Johnson

Inside the NBA

Kenny Smith

Shaquille O’Neal

Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.