Inside the NBA Bids Farewell to TNT with a Nod to The Sopranos’ Iconic Ending

The final regular-season episode of Inside the NBA on TNT closed with a dramatic homage to The Sopranos, HBO’s legendary series, leaving fans both nostalgic and momentarily confused. The show’s crew—Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal—recreated the infamous cut-to-black diner scene from the 2007 finale, complete with Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" and abrupt silence. Johnson played Tony Soprano (jokingly compared to Steve Buscemi’s "Cousin Tony"), Smith donned a red dress as Carmela, and Barkley and O’Neal took on roles hinting at the original’s ominous undertones.

A Legacy in Transition The tribute marked the end of Inside the NBA’s 35-year run on TNT, though the show will continue under ESPN’s syndication starting next season. Warner Bros. Discovery’s loss of NBA broadcast rights to NBC and Amazon prompted the shift, but ESPN’s deal ensures the beloved crew remains intact for marquee games. During the emotional broadcast, Johnson reflected on the show’s impact: "For fans who think NBA, they think NBA on TNT".

Fan Reactions and Cultural Echoes The parody divided viewers: longtime Sopranos fans appreciated the meta-humor, while others briefly feared a technical glitch—mirroring reactions to HBO’s original finale. The segment’s abrupt ending, like The Sopranos’, left Tony’s (and Johnson’s) fate ambiguously unresolved.

What’s Next TNT will air a documentary, Going Inside, in May, chronicling the show’s final season. Meanwhile, ESPN plans to integrate the crew into its NBA coverage, including NBA Countdown and Finals broadcasts.

The homage encapsulated Inside the NBA’s signature blend of sports analysis and pop-culture irreverence—a fitting sendoff for a show that redefined sports television.