Shaquille O'Neal missed his second straight NBA playoffs broadcast on Tuesday, as TNT provided coverage for two compelling Game 5 matchups. Ernie Johnson announced on Sunday that O'Neal was going to be absent from the show, and that the Hall of Fame big man was also set to miss Tuesday's program due to other work commitments.

In this week's sports media column, Chad Finn shared what's irked him about the national broadcasts in the NBA playoffs.

It's mid-May, and we still do not yet (officially) know who the 2025 NBA MVP is.

On TNT's "Inside the NBA ," Dwight Howard sat in for Shaquille O'Neal, and Howard sent a clear message with a post on X. "Yall gotta have me and my big brother up here next 😂 @NBAonTNT," Howard wrote.

NBA on TV about to look way different. The Timberwolves eliminated the Lakers, live on TNT, and then longtime NBA play-by-play man Kevin Harlan said something that hit

The NBA Playoffs continue tonight with two crucial Game 5s! First, the Cleveland Cavaliers try to stave off elimination against the Indiana Pacers. Then the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder battle for an ultra-valuable 3-2 series lead.

This is after Hall of Fame big man Shaquille O'Neal was nowhere to be found as the broadcast started. Ernie Johnson provided the usual intro for the hosts, which, as always, included Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. However, it was Jalen Rose who filled in for O'Neal.

After a full year of him insisting it can’t fire him, TNT finally figured out how to silence Charles Barkley, for a moment. It’s been 12 months of Barkley ranting about TNT’s bosses at Warner Bros. Discovery after they were unsuccessful in their attempts at retaining NBA game rights beyond this season.