‘Inside the NBA’ joining in on the latest TikTok trend shows why the show is unparalleled in sports
“Inside the NBA” has a case as the best studio show in the history of sports television. This seemed like it was going to be the final season for the crew with TNT set to lose its NBA rights next year, but the show received a lifeline from ESPN to keep going on a new channel. Shaquille O’Neal still needs a new contract, but it feels like a miracle that “Inside” won’t be going away after all.
On Wednesday night, the “Inside” cast decided to do the “Suspect Challenge.” This is the latest viral TikTok challenge, and it’s already being co-opted by shows like Amazon’s NFL studio show. If you are like me, you have never heard of the “Suspect Challenge” before now. I doubt anyone can do it as well as the “Inside the NBA” crew, though. The magical chemistry of the show was on full display in this one minute clip. Watch it here:
This is the most the Inside Crew has run in 20 years #SuspectChallenge pic.twitter.com/SSoWvtbz6F
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 20, 2024
Some of these jokes are to be expected. The gang rips on Charles Barkley for being overweight, on Kenny Smith for no one remembering his playing days, on Shaq for playing for a lot of teams by the end of his career. The delivery is what makes it so great.
When Barkley says Shaq would get really tired trying to name all of his kids, the segment goes off the rails. This would be inappropriate in just about any other context, but that’s what makes the show work. Only this crew could get away with saying stuff like this, and it always produces great TV.
We are so lucky “Inside the NBA” isn’t leaving us forever. The NBA wouldn’t be the same without it.
