A 19-second clip sums up how bad ESPN’s halftime show is at the NBA Finals.

Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals is underway. The Indiana Pacers are leading the Oklahoma City Thunder, 1-0, heading into Game 2. Oklahoma City was leading Indiana, 59-41, after two quarters of play on Sunday evening.

That’s where ESPN’s halftime show came in – unfortunately.

A 19-second clip, featuring the likes of Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins and more just screaming over each other, is going viral on social media.

It sums up just how bad ESPN’s NBA coverage is. The network can’t add “Inside the NBA” from TNT Sports soon enough.

ESPN's halftime show.

ESPN’s halftime crew.

ESPN/X

Awful Announcing shared a 19-second clip of ESPN’s halftime show, hosted by Malika Andrews, proving how rough things are on Sunday evening.

“The ESPN NBA Finals halftime show can be tough on the ears,” they wrote.

NBA fans were in agreement.

“I got mad love for Bob Myers but ESPN NBA broadcast team is at an all-time low. Better hope the Inside the NBA guys save them next season,” one fan wrote.

“I don’t even bother with halftime or pregame shows on ESPN…for the very reason shown,” one fan added.

“If they now own Inside the NBA. We can have them do the shows now right? We don’t ever ever ever have to hear these people again,” one fan added.

“I’m not one of those crazies who mutes the play-by-play of a game because I don’t like the people doing the game, but I do legitimately mute ESPN’s pregame and halftime NBA coverage. That doesn’t make me an old. That makes me a smart,” one fan added.

ESPN is set to add “Inside the NBA” from TNT Sports next season. Many have worried that ESPN will “ruin” the show, which features Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.

However, even if ESPN ruins it, it can’t be any worse than what we’ve got right now.

Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals is airing live on ABC. Thankfully, we’re back in game action.

Everyone Is Noticing The Same Thing About How Awful ESPN’s Halftime Show Has Become

The NBA on ESPN crewThe NBA on ESPN crew (Photo via Twitter)
The 2025 NBA Finals are getting a lot of criticism, and much of that is just because of ESPN’s awful halftime show.

While top league players are putting out their best games throughout the series, the broadcast has made many fans unhappy.

Recently, a 19-second clip went viral showing commentators like Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins yelling at each other.

Fans have taken to social media to express their frustration, making it clear that they yearn for something better from ESPN during the game breaks.

Ever since the league has decided to shuffle the broadcasting and a couple of other changes, it has been getting criticized more and more.