Scott Van Pelt, Draymond Green make sense for ‘Inside.’ Ending it might, too

October 29, 2026

If Inside the NBA continues without Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley, Scott Van Pelt and Draymond Green would be my first calls.

Van Pelt has the humor, credibility and ability to steer a conversation without making himself the conversation. Basically, he’s the closest thing to Ernie out there. He even looks a little like him.

Getting him away from his evening SportsCenter assignment would be another discussion. But if you’re looking for somebody to handle that chair, he makes sense.

Green, meanwhile, has repeatedly shown he’s comfortable on television. He knows basketball, offers insight and isn’t afraid to say something that might upset somebody. Sound familiar?

Frankly, I think he’s better suited for that job than his current one. Through the first week, I’m not convinced he should still be in the Warriors’ rotation. I don’t blame him for collecting the checks. But the name is doing more work than the game.

All that said, my preference would be to end the show if Barkley follows Johnson out. Barkley has said they’re a package deal, though he’s changed retirement plans before. hoopswire.com

No offense to Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, who are major reasons it works. But replacing two central personalities means you’re making a different show.

Otherwise, you risk becoming the modern-day Warriors, clinging to something that isn’t quite there anymore. Green could help explain that. He’s getting a firsthand look.