Shaquille O’Neal boosts Warner’s ‘Dunkman’ series

“Inside the NBA” has moved to ESPN, but TNT has a few other jobs available for some of the hosts of that popular studio show.

Shaquille O’Neal will appear as a judge along with other NBA greats including Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson and Mac McClung, and Chris Webber on “Dunkman,” a six-episode reality competition show airing on Warner Bros. in December. Discovery’s TNT, truTV and HBO Max.

In “Dunkman,” 40 amateur dunkers from around the world compete for the $200,000 grand prize. And while the premise may not be shocking, it’s interesting that Warner’s TNT Sports continues to find supporting roles for O’Neal and others, even as the company’s flagship sports programming becomes a property more associated with Disney’s ESPN.

Adam Lefkoe, a TNT Sports commentator and podcaster who has worked with O’Neal in the past, will host the program, which begins Thursday, December 4 at 7 and 8 p.m. and airs at the same hours for two consecutive weeks. Jalen Rose, the former ESPN commentator and host, will serve as an analyst.

The show will give Warner some association with basketball after the company lost its NBA rights following the end of the league’s previous season, severing ties after a decades-long relationship. The NBA’s current rights deal places the games on properties affiliated with NBCUniversal, Amazon and Disney.

Warner continues to produce “Inside the NBA,” and there have been discussions about launching a more general sports commentary program with the “Inside” hosts for Warner’s networks. O’Neal has worked with Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith for decades. Smith has signed a deal with ESPN that will see him appear on the Disney network’s shows, including “First Take.” Johnson is expected to continue working at Warner, where he will also handle MLB duties.

The new program will add to O’Neal’s many media activities. He also works as a popular commercial pitchman for companies including The General, an insurance provider.

“Dunkman” will take place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The series is produced by TNT Sports in collaboration with A. Smith & Co, producer of reality series ranging from ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ to ‘Titan Games’, and Authentic Brands Group.