Amid the excitement about “Inside the NBA” and its impending move to ESPN, there is one big issue that will need to be squared away for next season, and it involves the status of Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal is not under contract with Warner Bros. Discovery for the next NBA season, according to Jimmy Traina of SI. Shaq’s contract is different from the rest of the cast, as he is signed exclusively for NBA duties, and his deal expires on July 1, 2025.
According to Traina, Shaq wants to remain on the show after it is licensed to ESPN. However, he has been “frustrated” by the public pronouncements that the show will remain unchanged while he is not actually under contract for next year. O’Neal could have multiple options if he wants to do other work next year, perhaps even in tandem with an “Inside the NBA” role.
Other reporting on the move has suggested that O’Neal is committed to remaining on the show and likely to sign a contract extension. That may well be true, but until it actually happens, there will be room for speculation.
Shaq has been part of “Inside the NBA” since 2011. No matter what happens with him, the rest of the crew, including Charles Barkley, are locked in to continue their work.
