NBA on TNT’s legendary and award-winning ‘Inside the NBA’ will call the Christmas Day matchup pitting the Los Angeles Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles. The NBA announced the news earlier today just under two weeks before the biggest day of the NBA regular season.
This game, the final contest of the night, marks the first time the ‘Inside The NBA’ crew has ever called a Christmas Day match-up, along with it being the first time the quartet of Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley have ever called a live game together; the crew will still do their normal pregame, halftime, and post-game shows throughout the day. Along with the studio team calling the game, Kristen Ledlow will also be reporting from the sidelines. ESPN and ABC will have the first four games of the day starting at noon eastern time.
TNT's in-game commentators wish EJ, Chuck, Kenny & Shaq luck as the #InsidetheNBA crew prepares to take over game duties on Christmas Day in Los Angeles ?? pic.twitter.com/s0TC1io42O
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 14, 2017
With the Wolves being led by the star trio of Jimmy Butler, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Andrew Wiggins, and the Lakers on the rise with the budding Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram, plenty of young talent will be headlined in this game. But just be prepared for a random Barkley vs Shaq fight and Ernie Johnson might give up just about mid-way through the first quarter.
