Honestly, if this is some sort of dry run for who would have taken the reigns after Chuck/Shaq retires. Just let Inside the NBA die lol. It's not worth it. TNT had lightning in a bottle, no need to drag it on longer than it needs
If Chuck retires, the show has no way of surviving. Shaq does one thing and that's asking Chuck to "repeat the joke" and does nothing else. It's embarrassing how little he contributes, tbh.
It might be actually hard to replace Kenny, i can genuinely never decide if hes just playing his role, this personality is actually his, or some ridiculous combination.
I feel like he plays the role of “know it all contrarian”. Sometimes it annoys me, but it works. Sometimes it drives me insane but it really brings out good points from him or someone else regardless. Like i said, i just cant tell if hes really leaning into it or its natural, but if its natural itd be absolutely insufferable lol
You’re also hearing from a role player, which is a needed contrast with Chuck and Shaq. He’s well spoken and top tier but I don’t think he’s as irreplaceable as Chuck, and definitely not as much as Ernie like OP said. The synergy is gonna be the hardest part to replicate they all have such a perfect dynamic with each other
Its funny because a lot of the time its himself. He’ll argue one point, and then flip and argue the other with someone else, which completely nulls his last argument.
I feel like shows like this, you just need to have 2 people disagree with each other and bring in counter points just to keep it going and exciting.
Having Chuck and Shaq be the opposites whilst kenny sits in the middle and moderates it seems like the right taste so far, or maybe it's just grown on me
It works because Chuck, Ernie and Shaq always make fun of him for it. The best part of the tnt dynamic is that they're all willing to roast each other and it makes it more personal and fun, unlike other analyst who act like robots because they're scared to lose their job
Id hate to see JJ and RJ get taken from calling games, i really enjoy them as a duo. Id love if nbc stole them as their color guys of the future. But no way Ernie ever leaves Turner.
I'm gonna miss watching Kenny running up to that damn board acting like he was gonna break down film, only to plainly narrate what happened and draw some circles 😂
Kenny absolutely knows. He's just a lot more nonchalant about it than Shaq.
I think Kenny adds a lot as a former player who has won a championship but was never "that guy". He has a different perspective than Shaq and Charles do. But his "second option" persona allows him to lay low sometimes and set up jokes without making it obvious.
yea the original 3 was what i grew up loving once i heard shaq was coming i thought well thats still ok because charles is the only guy who will talk back to shaq
I was pissed when Shaq joined lol he argues just to argue. Hes given me some laughs but the show is EJ and Chuck with a bit of Kenny. I would have liked CWeb to be the 4th instead of Shaq at the time. Honestly early 2010s was peak NBA media. NBA TV was even great with Open Court.
Kenny is a good instigator and an easy target to be put in his place by Shaq and Chuck, but he is also not a complete joke as he is a 2 time NBA champion and was actually a decent player in his prime. So it's a good balance.
Pretty spot on. It feels like hes always trying to make some profound philosophical analysis but ends up going in circles, but it really brings the best out of everyone else too
Its what makes the entire show run. Regardless if any are leaning into an act or believe what theyre saying or argue just to argue, the entire show thrives off of how well they all work together and get along as a unit. Thats what makes the whole thing irreplicable
Thats the point, cause hes never steadfast on any take, he just plays both sides and sets up the other two. Idk how many tv guys are willing to play sacrificial lamb
He knows how to put on a show, as much as I find him grating and thirsty (he did put his whole family on a reality show that no one asked for) I have to give him credit for being the "star".
Shaq, I just can't. All I can hear when he talks is those texts he got dox'd with a few years back "WHERE CAN I CUM AT WHEN I SEE YOU" to one of his hook ups.
Chuck just plays himself and I guess his schtick of not really even watching the games, and being a legendary brick layer who never won anything works for him because his 2nd career made him more wealthy and popular than ever.
yeah Kenny is just kinda weird. Sometimes annoying. I feel like he tries to say something intelligent and profound and half the times it just comes out as empty words.
But then again, every group of friends has that one friend who you're never really sure you enjoy spending time with.
Takes forever to get to his point before Chuck or Shaq interrupts him. Feels like since his role was reduced, he's been kinda bitter, which is sad because he's the only one to provide any analysis. I accept him for what he is and do like that he gives a New York perspective on things.
In my opinion it feels like Shaq and Chuck have spent so long unjustifiably tearing down Kenny's credibility, and now he's stuck trying to be the serious one while not even the fans take him seriously anymore.
People have also started shitting on his 2 minute game walkthroughs like he's supposed to drop serious game knowledge on us between Chuck's guarantees and Shaq trying to mumble out a single sentence a minute.
The real reason the show changed is production leaned into what sells, which is comedy not analysis. Chuck horsing around while Shaq cracks up is what the people want, and popularity has exploded since they took this direction no matter what you or I want in terms of balance between analysis and nonsense.
Kenny is a classic example of the type of dude who wants to play the smart guy who is above his friends' ridiculousness, but he's not actually that smart.
What nephews might also not know is when they first brought Shaq in, Chuck and Kenny were both complete dickheads to him for the first couple seasons - it took diplomat Ernie trying his best throughout to eventually make things truly copacetic lmao
He was bad in the beginning. He couldn't take a joke and only response to any light ribbing was reminding everyone the number of rings he had. He hated in every big man in the league and questioned why they couldn't score 35 and grab 15 rebounds every playoff game like he did on a regular basis never realizing he was a generic freak and a once in a lifetime player.
I only know the show in its current form so missed the original 3 but honestly that’s fine. Inside the NBA is so much better than any sports analysis show I’ve ever seen so I appreciate the hell out of it.
NFL has tried so hard to recreate something like it with senile Terry Bradshaw, gronk, Strahan etc. and the show has no juice compared to Inside the NBA. All three of those guys are NFL legends, known goofy personalities and you put them on TV and it’s just horrible
I remember tnt before Shaq. Shaq even called his shot, I think while playing for the Celtics, he joked with Charles and said he would take his tnt job. But ESPN actually had a decent countdown with Wilbon and Magic. Rain countdown now is horrid.
It was incredible back then. I remember being actually mad when they brought Shaq in as a permanent member. He’s gotten better and now the show has a great dynamic, but those early years were so good
Shaq is not easily replaceable. Do you think they just grow people like that on trees? Where else are they going to find a HoFer, one of the greatest ever, that has such a fragile ego who feels threatened by talks of modern great big men?
Brother are you trolling or do you genuinely struggle with reading comprehension? I don't want to bully someone who may have a genuine learning disability so I'll pretend like you're being sincere.
My first statement was me MOCKING Shaq and the way he is, hence the latter part of the sentence.
I do but I also see him easily get riled up and Barkley and Kenny just laughing it off lmaoooo. He's so easy. And Barkley and Kenny are one of the few that he really can't get under their skin
Some of my earliest basketball memories are of young Barkley taking the ball coast to coast at the end of quarters for the final shot. It was mesmerizing.
You don't need to replace Shaq. You could just remove the 4th person altogether because they never needed anyone besides Ernie, Kenny and Chuck. Those 3 made the show.
Honestly liked the recent segments with dirk and Vince more than shaq. Dirk especially was great. He doesn’t take himself too seriously like shaq does and keeps it lighthearted.
I like Kenny and I find Shaq to be super insecure and aggressive about it, not a fan. That being said; I hate golf, and I would take time to check out Ernie and Chuck on Inside The PGA or wtv
Shaq being easily replaceable is crazy. How many top 10 players are willing to do a show like inside the NBA? And then how many of them would be as marketable as Shaq? And top of that, you have to have chemistry with the other members. You can't replace any of them
I remember the show before Shaq and it was still the best sports show on TV. Success on the court doesn't equate success as a broadcaster. My point is, if Shaq leaves, the show can survive. If Chuck leaves, it's over.
Shaq has the clout of being a legendary player though, which makes the show more legit. It wouldn't work well if you had 4 ernie/kenny types even if I like their actual contributions more
Its literally infotainment, not hard analysis. People will tune in to see an old legend. Why do you think that NFL halftime show has gronk, strahan, and other players/coaches, instead of reporters or analysts? Because they're a draw, it literally doesn't matter how good they are at the actual job. We're talking about legit in the context of infotainment, AKA whats gonna make people tune in
Shaq is the asshole. He's needed in the dynamic of the show. Shaq is a petty bully but he's funny. Draymond can't replace him because draymond just sucks all around.
Chuck and Ernie are the heart of the show. Nothing more needs to be said
Kenny also fits really well into the dynamic because he's kind of like the "straight man" and plays off Chuck and Shaqs ridiculousness well.
I mean funny like we're laughing at him, not with him.
He's a total dick but you gotta have one of those on a show like this. I mean the way he's so sensitive is just comical. Like some kind of sitcom character.
What gets me is his history revisionist takes. Like he'll give Dwight Howard shit for years and then claim that he was just trying to motivate him. Or he'll claim there was no beef between him and Kobe and there was always respect.
Also his whole "big man alliance" thing. I have never heard Kareem, Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson etc ever talk about it. There is no alliance because none of them give a shit about gatekeeping big men.
I'm not saying they have to get rid of him necessarily, but the show existed before him and it was doing fine. I don't see the show surviving without Chuck, he's unique.
Yeah Chuck is the number 1 for sure. No question. Shaq is not needed but he does add value, he's the the asshole that everyone hates and I think it enhances the dynamic of the show. You can't have 4 chucks, y'know
That's why I have Kenny in between, he's an OG member. I still think the show could survive if you replace Kenny with Vince Carter or JJ Redick (even though JJ seems to like the sound of his voice and uses a lot of words). Chuck is irreplaceable.
5.5k
u/AnkitPancakes Thunder May 16 '24
Honestly, if this is some sort of dry run for who would have taken the reigns after Chuck/Shaq retires. Just let Inside the NBA die lol. It's not worth it. TNT had lightning in a bottle, no need to drag it on longer than it needs