ESPN is set to feature significantly more of Kenny “The Jet” Smith across its basketball portfolio, marking a notable expansion of the two-time NBA champion’s on-air footprint beyond his longstanding role on Inside the NBA.
The network’s PR team confirmed the development on Wednesday, revealing that Smith will join the flagship debate program First Take as a regular contributor while also stepping in as a color analyst for select NBA broadcasts. His integration begins immediately, with a guest spot scheduled on NBA Countdown Wednesday night ahead of the primetime matchup.
Kenny Smith’s expanded role at ESPN
Inside the NBA’s Kenny Smith (@TheJetOnTNT) will appear on additional ESPN programming – including @FirstTake – as part of a new, multi-year agreement pic.twitter.com/1A0DBGtNfa
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 5, 2025
The agreement, described as multiyear, operates independently of Smith’s existing contract with TNT Sports, where he remains a core member of the Inside the NBA ensemble alongside Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson.
This dual-network arrangement underscores Smith’s unique position in the evolving media landscape following the NBA’s seismic rights shift, which will see Inside the NBA migrate to ESPN/ABC platforms starting with the 2025-26 season.
The move raises eyebrows given Barkley’s public stance against fragmenting the Inside crew across ESPN’s broader ecosystem. The Hall of Famer has repeatedly emphasized his desire to keep the iconic panel intact and contained to its signature studio format, citing a preference for preserving the show’s chemistry rather than diluting it through additional appearances.
Yet Barkley himself maintains a robust presence on external platforms, including recurring guest spots on The Dan Patrick Show and The Rich Eisen Show—the latter now syndicated daily across ESPN Radio and streaming on Disney+.
No parallel expansions have been announced for Barkley, O’Neal, or Johnson at ESPN proper. However, Barkley, Johnson, and Smith—are expected this spring to work under the TNT Sports/CBS Sports banner for comprehensive coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The trio has been a March Madness staple since 2011, with the exception of the COVID-canceled 2020 edition, blending their irreverent Inside energy with collegiate hoops analysis.
Smith’s increased ESPN visibility addresses a scheduling quirk created by the network’s broadcast calendar. Whereas Inside the NBA once anchored Thursday nights on TNT, ESPN’s loaded slate—including ABC’s high-profile Saturday Primetime and Sunday Showcase windows—pushes the program toward a backloaded structure.
The show will now prioritize airings around marquee regular-season clashes, and the entirety of the postseason, leaving gaps that Smith’s new roles are poised to fill.
Stephen A. Smith’s relation to Kenny Smith
His First Take pairing carries personal resonance. The Queens, New York native will share the desk with Stephen A. Smith, a fellow borough product who once suited up for Kenny’s brother Vincent’s AAU squad in the late 1980s.
Their shared geography and history have already produced memorable television: during last December’s NBA In-Season Tournament in Las Vegas, a joint ESPN/TNT crossover segment saw Kenny—renowned for his 89.4% career free-throw percentage—stunned in a charity shooting contest by the bombastic analyst. The lighthearted defeat instantly went viral and underscored the duo’s natural rapport.
Inside the NBA on ESPN
Early returns suggest a seamless transition. Just weeks into the arrangement, Smith has settled comfortably into ESPN. The network has drawn acclaim for preserving Inside the NBA’s irreverent soul amid the platform switch—retaining the original set design, signature segments like “Shaqtin’ a Fool,” and the panel’s unscripted dynamic.
For ESPN, Smith represents a versatile Swiss Army knife: a championship pedigree, broadcast polish honed over two decades, and an ability to pivot between studio debate, play-by-play booths, and digital content without missing a beat. His expanded footprint also signals the network’s intent to maximize crossover appeal as it integrates the Inside brand into its ecosystem.
As the regular season accelerates toward playoff intensity, viewers can expect “The Jet” to touch down across ESPN’s airwaves with greater frequency—whether breaking down the latest controversy on First Take, calling a pivotal fourth-quarter run from courtside, or reprising his role as the voice of reason amid Barkley’s bombast.
In an era of media fragmentation, Smith’s omnibus presence reaffirms a simple truth: proven personalities remain the ultimate currency.
