Hold onto your seats, basketball fans, because the broadcasting world just got a whole lot more exciting! Kenny Smith is expanding his empire, taking on a brand-new role with ESPN that’s sure to shake things up. While Charles Barkley has been the center of jokes about potential ESPN commitments, it’s Smith who’s stepping into the spotlight with a diverse set of responsibilities at the network.
Here’s the scoop: Kenny Smith, the beloved analyst from Inside the NBA, has inked a deal with ESPN that goes beyond his usual gig. He’ll be calling select NBA games, bringing his sharp insights to the First Take morning debate show, and even making a guest appearance on NBA Countdown alongside Malika Andrews, Michael Malone, and Kendrick Perkins. But here’s where it gets controversial—this agreement is completely separate from his ongoing role with TNT Sports, raising questions about how he’ll juggle both networks.
Smith is a household name as a studio analyst for TNT, but did you know he’s no stranger to game commentary? He’s spent years calling games for other networks, including Fox Sports’ Sunday night ACC basketball package and regular appearances on MSG Network for Knicks games. He even joined Hannah Storm on NBC for Game 6 of the 2002 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. And this is the part most people miss—Smith’s versatility in both studio analysis and live game commentary makes him a unique asset in sports broadcasting.
This announcement comes just two weeks after ESPN licensed TNT’s Inside the NBA as its primary NBA studio show. So far, the integration has been minimal, with only ESPN reporters appearing for live updates. There’s no word yet on whether this signals a broader shift for Smith’s TNT colleagues, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. Speaking of Barkley, he pledged exclusivity to TNT last year—though he later admitted to entertaining offers from NBC and Amazon. Is this a sign of shifting loyalties in the sports media world?
The TNT-produced show is on a brief hiatus this week but returns next Wednesday. Interestingly, it’s only scheduled to air on ESPN/ABC once in the next ten weeks—on Christmas Day—before resuming a regular schedule on January 24. What does this mean for the future of NBA broadcasting? Only time will tell.
This update comes from Jon Lewis, the founder of Sports Media Watch, who’s been dissecting the sports media industry daily since 2006. If you’re as intrigued as we are, you can reach out to him via his website or follow him on X (Twitter) or Bluesky for more insights. What’s your take on Kenny Smith’s new role? Is this a game-changer, or just another play in the broadcasting playbook? Let us know in the comments!
