TNT’s 36-year partnership with the NBA officially ended on Saturday, as the network’s coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals wrapped up with a six-game Indiana series win over New York.

Broadcast rights negotiations with TNT parent company Warner Bros. Discovery fell apart last year, and ultimately the NBA opted to split its rights between ABC/ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.  TNT Sports did secure the rights to broadcast games beyond the states, including in parts of Latin America and in Nordic countries, writes Richard Deitsch of The Athletic.

Although TNT’s relationship with the league is officially over, its impact will continue, write The Athletic’s Deitsch and James Jackson.

“If I had written the script, the NBA and TNT would be together forever,” TNT’s “Inside The NBA” mainstay said during his last statement while broadcasting an NBA game for the network. “Inside The NBA” will move to ESPN/ABC next season. “It’s not going to happen, but while I was disappointed, I was sad, I was not bitter. We know how business works. Gratitude is the operative word for me.”

Deitsch and Jackson caution that the unexpected and free-flowing nature of “Inside The NBA” broadcasts may be hampered when the program is moved to a new network.

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