The sports world is already looking ahead to the arrival of Inside the NBA to ESPN in the fall of 2025, and that includes top ESPN talent. Scott Van Pelt acknowledged in a recent interview that he has “thought about” how he could serve a role within the legendary show, which ESPN and ABC will license starting next NBA season.

In an interview on The Varsity podcast released after a strong Christmas Day for the NBA, Van Pelt opened up on how he thinks he could complement Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith when they arrive at the network. While Van Pelt made it clear he is not lobbying for the job, nor does he believe the show needs his help — he is interested.

“The thing I’ve thought about, just out loud, is if I were there in some role of interviewing people adjacent to them,” Van Pelt said.

“They should talk to the stars, but maybe they don’t talk to everybody. And if I have some role interviewing someone … or they come to that interview, I don’t know. I’m just spitballing out loud here. I’m sure we could all figure out a way, because we all have great sort of friendship with one another. But I’d be the first person to say … in no way would I want to shoehorn my way into something that is, I think by most people’s estimation, pretty perfect as it is. It feels like all you could do is mess it up.”

Certainly Van Pelt is a strong interviewer, so the idea makes sense. He has become ESPN’s go-to postgame face since launching the midnight SportsCenter. Even during the NBA playoffs and Finals, it is Van Pelt who takes the reigns postgame to recap the biggest moments in basketball.

Now, Inside will likely take over that gig. The move to license that show marks a fairly significant change to Van Pelt’s role at the network between April and June.

Yet working with Van Pelt would mark a departure from Inside‘s usual mold as well. The show does have correspondents, but those are simply TNT Sports sideline reporters and analysts like Jared Greenberg and Reggie Miller. The ESPN counterparts in those roles would likely slide into the same spots once Inside moves.

Van Pelt is likely ahead of a Lisa Salters or Richard Jefferson in the pecking order at the worldwide leader and could get an on-site NBA reporting role if he wanted it. That would mean pushing for it behind the scenes and knocking other folks out of the opportunity.

It would also mean changing up what has always worked for Inside — alongside hosts with whom Van Pelt doesn’t have a personal relationship.

“That’s tricky, because Ernie and Chuck are really good friends,” Van Pelt told host John Ourand. “I don’t know them. I don’t know Shaq and I don’t know Kenny nearly as well. We’ve met in passing, and obviously I’ve admired that show immensely. I would hate to in any way impact that show negatively, because it doesn’t need anything else or anyone else.”

Beyond Van Pelt’s possible involvement with the show, these comments reveal the game of thrones that comes with a big change like this at ESPN. The arrival of a new NBA pre-and postgame show is already looming over contract talks between Stephen A. Smith and the worldwide leader. Similar to how Van Pelt took over Monday Night Countdown when ESPN laid off Suzy Kolber, as a major talent on the network, he would be misguided not to explore his chances within the NBA musical chairs.

[The Varsity Podcast]