ESPN exec gives honest answer on Stephen A. Smith's rumored move to Inside the NBA next season

NBA fans were thrilled to learn TNT's Inside the NBA will continue on ESPN next season when the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned cable network is scheduled to lose domestic media rights to the league.

The news had led many to wonder if Stephen A. Smith would add a new role with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson, but ESPN president Burke Magnus shot down that notion in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

The bottom line is Inside the NBA remains TNT's show, and is unlikely to incorporate ESPN talent, even if the program is being aired on the Worldwide Leader.

'We have no plans to do that,' Magnus said of adding Smith to the program. 'And that's because, frankly, the construct of the deal really doesn't — that's not how it was conceived. What is conceived is that Turner, as they have always done with this show, with this cast, with the people involved behind the scenes, are going to continue to do what they've always done.

'We don't want to change it, we don't want to interject new talent into it. We don't want to really do anything to it.'

Smith ranks as ESPN's premier star these days, even as his contract is set to expire in June. With that in mind, many in media circles are envisioning ESPN finding new ways to utilize Smith to justify a lucrative new deal for the pundit.

There are other unanswered questions with the widely popular Inside the NBA, which continues to be aired by TNT this season.

Namely, the future of O'Neal, whose deal expires in July of 2025.

According to Sports Illustrated, O'Neal wants to remain on 'Inside the NBA' but is 'frustrated' to see press releases confirm the same lineup even though he has not signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.

It's claimed that O'Neal could remain on 'Inside the NBA' but also sign a deal with rival companies such as Amazon or NBC, the NBA's new partners from next season.

'Inside the NBA', which has won nearly two dozen Emmy Awards, will reportedly be broadcast on ESPN and ABC around big live events.

Those include ESPN's pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, as well as conference finals and NBA playoffs.

'Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports,' ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.

'We have long admired the immensely talented team and are thrilled to add their chemistry and knowledge to our robust set of NBA studio offerings to super-serve NBA fans like never before.

'The addition of Inside the NBA further solidifies ESPN as the preeminent destination for sports fans.'