I shouldn\u2019t really base an entire column off this post because it\u2019s kind of ridiculous that the person is using Inside the NBA as a way to bash ESPN when Inside the NBA is still produced by Turner Sports. ESPN does not have any editorial control over Inside the NBA. ESPN just licenses the show.<\/p>\n
The person who posted this will also be very disappointed to learn that ESPN\u2019s contract with the NBA runs through 2036.<\/p>\n
However, the point about an X\u2019s and O\u2019s studio show compared to one that leans on entertainment is an interesting one.<\/p>\n
The truth is, networks can\u2019t really win because a lot of people want X\u2019s and O\u2019s and a lot of people want entertainment. <\/p>\n
Personally, I just want entertainment. There was nothing better on television all weekend than Charles Barkley and Shaq laughing uncontrollably about Ice Spice\u2019s McDonald\u2019s fight.<\/p>\n
“I can almost guarantee you that this was not what McDonald’s had in mind when they sponsored ‘Inside the NBA.'” \ud83c\udfc0\ud83d\udcfa\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83c\udf5f #NBA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3csnvpAX9M<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019d also argue that Inside the NBA gives people a good amount of X\u2019s and O\u2019s. Kenny Smith is always racing to the big board to break down plays, so to act like only Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki do this on Prime is just not accurate.<\/p>\n And I know a lot of people are not going to like this argument, but the truth is that going viral is just as important to networks as providing good television. Inside the NBA goes viral all the time. It happened again this weekend with the McDonald\u2019s clip. <\/p>\n Prime Video can break down X\u2019s and O\u2019s like they\u2019re Pat Riley, Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson rolled into one, but that stuff doesn\u2019t resonate in this social media world.<\/p>\n The key for any studio show is to find the balance of X\u2019s and O\u2019s and entertainment while remembering that entertainment moves the needle way more than X\u2019s and O\u2019s.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0I found it fascinating the past couple of days to see so many outlets run with the story of the Patriots \u201ctrying to kill\u201d the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini New York Post piece when the report came from In Touch magazine.<\/p>\n New England Patriots Owner \u2018Tried to Kill\u2019 Story of Head Coach Mike Vrabel\u2019s Alleged Affair With Dianna Russini (Exclusive) https:\/\/t.co\/WDM1sPquN2<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/NT5x1BIWET<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 In Touch Weekly (@intouchweekly) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m not saying the story isn\u2019t true (although, I would bet money it\u2019s not), but I\u2019d think sports outlets would be a little hesitant to aggregate In Touch on a story about the inner workings of the New England Patriots.<\/p>\n 3. This is good stuff. On Saturday, Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing said the following after his team dropped a game to the Rockies, 4-3: \u201cI think it\u2019s odd that some of those hitters that do what they do, they go up there and they\u2019re on the first pitch that was thrown. It\u2019s a little fishy but I\u2019ll wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n Colorado certainly got wind of the \u201cfishy\u201d comment because on Sunday, in the Rockies\u2019 9-6 over Los Angeles, its players kept busting out a fishing celebration.<\/p>\n Goodman, Johnston, Julien and McCarthy all gone fishin pic.twitter.com\/swix29mlJY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Christian (@coors_merchant) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 4. Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan used to be tight, then Barkley criticized Jordan on TV and they haven\u2019t spoken in ages.<\/p>\n Barkley spoke to me about the rift during an appearance on SI Media With Jimmy Traina a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n The feud, though, is now over. On Friday, Barkley told Chris \u201cMad Dog\u201d Russo on SiriusXM that the duo has spoken recently and they are going to play a round of golf once the NBA playoffs end.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not like Prince William and Prince Harry.\u201d<\/p>\n The long feud is over. Charles Barkley tells @MadDogUnleashed<\/a> that him and Michael Jordan are speaking again and they are playing golf when the NBA season ends. pic.twitter.com\/YnAxcM5CYl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 5. For those who dismiss pro wrestling on the premise that it\u2019s \u201cfake,\u201d last week\u2019s<\/a> SI Media With Jimmy Traina guest Cody Rhodes sure got messed up during his WrestleMania match on Saturday after getting kicked in the eye.<\/p>\n A PUNT \ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31\ud83d\ude31@RandyOrton<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/NQJz4us23h<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Cody Rhodes\u2019 eye was swollen shut after the main event!#WrestleMania<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/RALNeJQh3U<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Texas Rattlesnake (@StoneColdSnakeX) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n holy shit that\u2019s a terrible black eye i hope he\u2019s okay \ud83d\ude15 pic.twitter.com\/2asMhd8x4f<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \ud835\udc26\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc24\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1a\u2661|cody rhodes fan account! (@siteofrhodes) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 6. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.<\/p>\n Charania talks about getting his start in sports media at just 17 years old, getting hired by Adrian Wojnarowski at 21 and how he feels about the day-to-day grind of being an insider. He also weighs in on the recent narratives about reporters in the wake of Dianna Russini\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n In addition, Charania takes us through what it was like to break the Anthony Davis-Luka Don\u010di\u0107 trade. He also weighs in on LeBron James\u2019s future, the NBA\u2019s tanking issue and recently getting called out by Doc Rivers.<\/p>\n Following Charania, Sal Licata from SNY TV joins me for our weekly \u201cTraina Thoughts\u201d segment. This week\u2019s topics include Russini resigning from The Athletic, the putrid starts by the Mets and Yankees, Netflix\u2019s upcoming documentary on Hulk Hogan, the season finale of\u00a0DTF St. Louis\u00a0and more.<\/p>\n You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple<\/a> and Spotify<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n 7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Since today is 4\/20…<\/p>\n Be sure to\u00a0catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts<\/a>\u00a0and check out the\u00a0Sports Illustrated Media Podcast\u00a0hosted by Jimmy Traina on\u00a0Apple<\/a>,\u00a0Spotify<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Google<\/a>. You can also follow Jimmy on\u00a0X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
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