1. On Saturday, TNT marked the end of its 36-year tradition of broadcasting NBA games, with the Indiana Pacers defeating the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
While the spotlight has largely been on Inside the NBA, the conversation has somewhat neglected the actual game broadcasts by the network.
It’s particularly noteworthy considering that Inside the NBA will continue next season on ESPN, still produced by TNT.
Following the Pacers’ victory, Kevin Harlan delivered a part-narrative, part-soliloquy homage to TNT’s long history of NBA coverage, recognizing many of the iconic commentators.
Legendary NBA commentator Marv Albert was a fixture on TNT. Mike Breen, set to announce his 20th NBA Finals in a row, was with TNT from 2002 to 2004. Dick Stockton, a veteran of over 50 years in sports broadcasting, also spent a significant part of his career at TNT. Other distinguished commentators who have been part of TNT’s NBA broadcasts include Hubie Brown, Doug Collins, Chuck Daly, Steve Kerr, Jeff Van Gundy, and the unforgettable sideline reporter Craig Sager, who was with TNT for 26 seasons. (Do check out the Instagram tribute posted by Sager’s wife following the conclusion of TNT’s NBA coverage.)
In addition to these prominent figures, numerous fan favorites and notable personalities were part of the coverage.
The montage featured a series of memorable clips that often made viewers remark, “Oh, wow, I forgot about him.”
Reggie Miller also shared some poignant remarks with Harlan.
If you didn’t catch the five-minute tribute on Saturday, it is definitely worth watching today. The team behind the segment, including Harlan, executed a perfect farewell.
Kevin Harlan, @ReggieMillerTNT, Stan Van Gundy and @ALaForce sign off from #NBAonTNT for the last time pic.twitter.com/d68HtuyWYT
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 1, 2025
2. Ernie Johnson also gave a touching farewell to TNT, although he will remain with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaq for the next season.
“Thanks for watching us. It’s been the NBA on TNT.” pic.twitter.com/6OulhnyL49
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 1, 2025
Since details on the exact nature of the Inside the NBA/ESPN collaboration are still under wraps, many, including Bill Simmons, are skeptical about the future of the show.
“I think ESPN is gonna f— this show up.”@BillSimmons explains why he’s not optimistic about the future of ‘Inside the NBA.’ pic.twitter.com/R9zuJvrJoK
— The Ringer (@ringer) June 1, 2025
3. It’s truly unfortunate that Curb Your Enthusiasm has concluded, as an episode featuring the notable Jets fan Larry David at the wedding of Bills quarterback Josh Allen would have been comedic gold.
For those curious about Larry David’s attendance at Allen’s wedding to actress Hailee Steinfeld, it turns out Larry is a family friend. According to an article on People.com, Steinfeld’s father, Peter, was Larry’s personal trainer.
An episode of Curb where Larry mistakenly attends the Steinfeld wedding, thinking it was a Seinfeld wedding, would have been an easy hit.
Larry David makes surprise appearance at Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld wedding https://t.co/1vZ4bjiBzV pic.twitter.com/pHbYSvNmLG
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 1, 2025
4. The full trailer for Happy Gilmore 2 is now available.
Here we go pic.twitter.com/bo9OA5Yc3F
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) June 1, 2025
5. In case you missed it on social media this Sunday, here’s a noteworthy mention that’s been making rounds.
Since May 4th, Scottie Scheffler has the same amount of wins as the Colorado Rockies have #MLB | #PGA pic.twitter.com/K2T3hFfAhz
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 1, 2025
6. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast was released on Thursday morning. This week’s guest is The Athletic’s media reporter/columnist Andrew Marchand.
Topics discussed on the podcast include the implications of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product for ESPN+, the competitive hiring of NBA talent by NBC and Amazon for the upcoming season, Reggie Miller’s commentary during the Knicks-Pacers series, the anticipated changes to Inside the NBA on ESPN, the impact of Caitlin Clark’s two-week injury absence on Fever viewership, the NFL schedule release, Pablo Torre’s coverage of the Bill Belichick/girlfriend drama, and much more.
Following Marchand, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we discuss the Knicks-Pacers series, a classic 30 for 30 episode I recently watched, Ben Stiller vs. Pat McAfee, and the best Stiller movies.
You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Happy 70th birthday to one of Saturday Night Live’s greatest cast members, Dana Carvey.
Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.
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Mike Johnson is a passionate news writer with a keen interest in current events. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he has a talent for uncovering the stories that matter most. Mike’s insightful articles and in-depth analyses have made him a trusted voice in the industry. He thrives on staying ahead of the news curve, providing readers with timely and relevant information. Whether it’s breaking news, politics, or social issues, Mike’s dedication to the craft ensures that his readers are always well-informed.