TNT’s long-awaited goodbye to its NBA coverage finally happened Saturday night after the Pacers eliminated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, and the network’s top on-air talent signed off with emotional—and controversial—farewells.

“If I had written the script, the NBA and TNT would be together forever,” Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson said as chants of “TNT, TNT” echoed from the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. “It’s not gonna happen. But while I was disappointed and I was sad, I was not bitter. We know how business works. Gratitude is the operative word for me.”

Next season, the NBA’s new $77 billion media rights deals with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon begin, ending TNT’s 36-year run broadcasting NBA games. 

“Our hearts are full of gratitude—not sadness—but gratitude and happiness for what has been,” TNT lead play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan said. “It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.” Harlan will be part of Amazon’s NBA broadcast team next season.

Inside the NBA Ready for ESPN Era

Inside the NBA, TNT’s flagship NBA studio show, will move to ESPN next season, but retain its cast and production team in Atlanta.

Shaquille O’Neal sent a pointed message to ESPN and TNT on his way out. “To that network we coming to, we not coming to eff around,” he said. “Since this is the last show, I’m going to say it: We not coming to f*** around.”

Charles Barkley echoed the excitement, albeit in a more FCC-friendly manner.  “To ESPN, it’s going to be an honor and a privilege to work for you guys,” he said. “You are the No. 1 sports network in history, and I’m excited for it. You’ve got some tremendous talents over there, and I’m looking forward to co-working with those guys.”

The move to ESPN will mean Inside the NBA will broadcast through the entirety of the playoffs, since ESPN/ABC will continue airing the NBA Finals under the new contracts.

NBA title competitors often have fun factoids that tie them together. 

For example, journeyman Patrick McCaw was on the Warriors when they defeated the Cavaliers in 2017, then played for Cleveland when the two teams battled again in 2018, and then played for the Raptors when they beat Golden State in 2019.

However, there is rarely a link as high-profile as the one between the Thunder and Pacers in this year’s NBA Finals. Both teams acquired significant parts of their core, including their respective best players, by trading away nine-time All-Star Paul George.

Indiana’s Indirect Build

George started his career with the Pacers after being selected No. 10 in the 2010 draft. He played seven years in Indiana, making four All-Star Games and three All-NBA teams while leading the team to back-to-back conference finals appearances for the first time since the ’90s. 

In 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City.

• Thunder acquire: Paul George
• Pacers acquire: Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis

The two new Pacers exceeded expectations by making two All-Star Games, but the team was forced to move on after Oladipo suffered a career-altering knee injury in 2019.

The Pacers traded Sabonis to the Kings for Tyrese Haliburton in February 2022. A year later, Haliburton signed a five-year, $244.6 million contract, solidifying his place as the team’s centerpiece. Last year, he led the Pacers to their first conference finals since the George-led team in 2014. He lifted them to the Finals this year, a place Indiana has not been since 2000. 

Andrew Nembhard, Haliburton’s backcourt sidekick, was also indirectly acquired through George. Oladipo was traded to the Rockets in 2021 for Caris LeVert, who was then traded to the Cavaliers in 2022. The Pacers acquired several picks from the Cavaliers, including the second-round pick they used to select Nembhard at No. 31 that summer.

Thunder Saw the Future

The Thunder’s build has a more direct link to George. The team acquired 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by trading George to the Clippers in 2019.

• Clippers acquire: Paul George
• Thunder acquire: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks, and two first-round picks swaps

At the time, the Clippers’ move felt justifiable as Gilgeous-Alexander, who had played one year for Los Angeles after being selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2018 draft, was not projected to be an MVP-caliber player. Trading for George, who finished third in MVP voting in his second and final year in Oklahoma City, also convinced Kawhi Leonard to sign with the Clippers, establishing a championship contender to follow the Lob City era.

The Leonard-George era in L.A. would last five seasons, with their best finish being a conference finals appearance in Year 2 (2020–21). Last summer, in free agency, George left L.A. in free agency for a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia.

Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t the only key player the Thunder received in that 2019 trade. Oklahoma City used the Clippers’ 2022 first-round pick to select Jalen Williams at No. 12. Williams was named an All-Star this year and is arguably the Thunder’s second-best player.

Max Verstappen is on the edge of being suspended after another contentious on-track incident involving the four-time defending Formula One drivers’ champion.

The Red Bull Racing star finished 10th at the Spanish Grand Prix after receiving a 10-second penalty for his role in a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell in the closing stretch of Sunday’s race. 

Verstappen was also assessed three penalty points, taking him to 11 over the past 12 months, which is one away from receiving an automatic one-race suspension. Two of those existing penalty points expire on June 30, which means Verstappen must avoid receiving any more during the Canadian and Austrian Grand Prix this month.

The financial impact of a suspension would be complicated. Verstappen, who is reported to receive an annual salary between $55 million and $65 million, would not necessarily miss a “race paycheck,” since every driver’s contract can be different. He would miss out on the opportunity to earn season-long points, though, which would worsen his chances at performance-based season-ending prize money.

Rapid Reaction

Russell, who finished fourth, said his perspective was that he “got crashed into,” which he felt was “deliberate” from Verstappen. “That’s how Max goes racing,” Russell said.

McLaren driver Lando Norris, who finished second, appeared to take Russell’s side in reacting to the incident: “I’ve done that before, in Mario Kart, “ he said. 

As for Verstappen’s reaction to it all? “I’ll bring some tissues next time,” he said.

Verstappen remains in third place in the drivers standings, just ahead of Russell (fourth), but behind Norris (second) and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (first). Red Bull is fourth in the team standings.