If you’ve been scouring the internet for Inside the NBA full episodes lately, you’ve probably noticed things feel a little... weird. We’re currently in the 2025-2026 season, and the TV landscape has shifted under our feet like a wonky parquet floor. For decades, it was simple: you turned on TNT, you watched the game, and then you let Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq tuck you in with three hours of absolute chaos.
But the old world is gone. Following a massive legal settlement and a licensing deal that felt like a blockbuster NBA trade, the "Inside" crew has officially moved their talents to ESPN and ABC. It’s the same guys, the same Atlanta studio, and the same "Gone Fishin'" vibes, but finding the actual full broadcasts is no longer just a matter of leaving the TV on one channel.
Where the Episodes Live Now (The Big Switch)
Let's be real: most of us just want to see Chuck roast a specific city or Shaq fall over a Christmas tree. But if you're looking for the actual Inside the NBA full episodes, you have to follow the licensing. Under the new 11-year rights deal, TNT Sports still produces the show, but they license it out to ESPN.
This means the "home" for the show is now ESPN and ABC. If you missed a live broadcast on a Tuesday or Thursday—or after a massive Saturday Primetime game on ABC—your best bet for the full-length experience is the ESPN App. They’ve been hosting the postgame shows there, especially when local news cuts in on the main ABC broadcast.
Honestly, it's a bit of a headache. You used to be able to find everything on the Bleacher Report app or TNT’s website, but now you’re navigating the Disney ecosystem. If you have a cable login or a subscription to a service like Fubo or YouTube TV, you can usually use the "Catch Up" or DVR features to snag the full hour.
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The YouTube Problem and the "Great Deletion"
Something happened a few months back that upset a lot of long-time fans. A huge chunk of the classic "Inside" archive—those legendary clips of the police presence at the Staples Center or the bracelet story—started disappearing from the official NBA on TNT YouTube channel.
Why? Because the branding is changing.
While you can still find plenty of 10-minute "Best Of" compilations on the official ESPN and NBA YouTube channels, getting Inside the NBA full episodes on YouTube is basically impossible now. The league is very protective of the full-length intellectual property. If you see a "Full Episode" upload from a random account with 40 subscribers and a blurry thumbnail, it’ll probably be struck down by a copyright claim before the first commercial break.
What about Max?
You might remember The Inside Story, that four-part documentary about the show’s history. That is still on Max (formerly HBO Max). However, Max has pivoted. While they still stream some live sports through the B/R Sports Add-on, the full library of past episodes isn't just sitting there like a Netflix sitcom. It’s fragmented.
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Why the Schedule is So Different This Season
If you feel like the show isn't on as much, you aren't imagining it. For the 2025-2026 season, ESPN announced about 20 "marquee" dates for the regular season. They’re treating "Inside" like a premium event rather than a nightly occurrence.
- Christmas Day: This remains the holy grail of the schedule.
- NBA Saturday Primetime: Starting in January, once the NFL winds down, the crew takes over the ABC window.
- The Playoffs: This is where you’ll actually get a consistent run of episodes.
The licensing deal specifically allows the crew to handle the Western or Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. If you want the old-school, four-nights-a-week experience, those days are kinda over. We're in the "Limited Edition" era of Ernie and the guys.
Is the Show Still the Same?
There was a lot of fear that the "Disney-fication" of the show would ruin it. People thought ESPN would force them to talk about "serious" analytics or cut the segments where they eat spicy wings and make fun of each other’s suits.
Luckily, the settlement kept creative control with TNT Sports in Atlanta. It’s the same producers. It’s the same messy desks. The only real difference is the logo in the corner of the screen and the fact that Stephen A. Smith sometimes pops in for a "crossover" segment.
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Actionable Steps to Never Miss an Episode
If you're tired of hunting for links at 1 AM, here is the most reliable way to secure your fix:
- Set a "Series Recording" on YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV: Even though the network changed, the metadata usually stays the same. Search for "Inside the NBA" and hit record. It will grab the show whether it airs on ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC.
- Authenticate the ESPN App: Don't wait until the game ends. Log in with your provider ahead of time so you can jump straight into the postgame stream when the ABC local news starts.
- Check the NBA App: Since WBD (Warner Bros. Discovery) still manages the NBA’s digital assets as part of the legal peace treaty, they often host "Inside" adjacent content and highlights that you won't find on the ESPN side.
- Follow the "Studio J" Socials: The behind-the-scenes clips—which are often better than the actual basketball talk—are still posted by the original TNT social media team.
The move to ESPN was a "save the show" move. Without it, the program might have died with the old TV contract. It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt now, but for the best show in sports history, a little extra clicking is worth it.
Next Steps for Fans:
Go to the ESPN App and search for "Inside the NBA" in the "Series" or "Originals" tab. If you have an active TV provider linked, you can often find the most recent 3-5 full broadcasts available for on-demand replay for a limited window after they air.