Bill Simmons Says Shaq Is Biggest Issue With Inside the NBA
Bill Simmons said Shaquille O'Neal is the biggest issue with Inside the NBA in its first season on. Simmons also said the fit, tighter scheduling and reduced postgame time have held the show back.
Bill Simmons on Shaq
“And to me, Shaq is the biggest issue with the show. It seems like he’s there because it’s fun to be on the show, but it doesn’t seem like he follows basketball at a high enough level anymore. Like, he doesn’t know who people like (Celtics forward) Baylor Scheierman are. You’re on a studio show covering a sport, you know? There has to be some sort of a modicum of following the game.”
That was the sharpest criticism in Simmons’ latest take on the show’s run. He framed it as part of a broader strain on a program that has received complaints from viewers and media alike since moving into a new setup.
Inside the NBA on
The show has far less room to stretch its legs postgame on than it did on TNT, and it aired far fewer times than normal because was juggling NBA Countdown while bringing Inside in for the biggest games. Charles Barkley regularly did interviews during the season, Kenny Smith signed a side deal with to appear on its studio shows, and O'Neal was limited to just Inside.
Simmons said the combination of the fit, scheduling restraints and reduced postgame time has left the show feeling different in its first season on the network. He added that O'Neal's standout moment this season came in a bizarre interview with a young couple who went viral at an Indiana Pacers game.
Next Rounds for Shaq
“They have a chance to flip the narrative again these next couple rounds. The basketball’s better, there’s more of a spotlight on them. It’ll be easier for someone like Shaq because there’s only four teams left, he can just watch the game and figure out what happened. He’ll know who Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is.”
That leaves the show with a clear test in the next couple rounds: a smaller playoff field, a brighter spotlight and a chance to change how its season is being judged. For now, Simmons has put the focus on O'Neal’s attention to the game, and on whether the show can settle into a sharper rhythm when the field narrows to four teams left.
