Inside the NBA moved from TNT to ESPN, bringing along their beloved and legendary crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley.And now, at least one member of arguably the most popular show in all of sports is expanding his duties. According to ESPN, Kenny “The Jet” Smith will be featured across much of the Worldwide Leader’s NBA coverage.He’ll contribute to First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith, serve as an analyst for various NBA games, and even make a special guest appearance on NBA Countdown ahead of the New York Knicks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs doubleheader.Smith’s new agreement with ESPN comes just two weeks after the network began airing Inside the NBA under a licensing deal with TNT Sports.Although the iconic studio show is still owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, it now airs on ESPN following TNT’s loss of its share of the NBA’s media rights package.Since the licensing deal was announced, there’s been speculation that ESPN might disrupt Inside the NBA’s trademark chemistry by inserting personalities like Stephen A. into the mix.So far, though, the show has remained true to form — virtually identical to the version that aired on TNT.While Smith’s role is expanding, don’t count on Barkley stepping outside the Inside the NBA studio anytime soon. Good luck getting him to clock extra hours.However, for Smith and ESPN, the move makes sense across the board. For the two-time NBA champion, it’s a chance to stay busy during the slower part of Inside the NBA’s calendar, which doesn’t ramp up until after Christmas.For ESPN, it means adding one of the league’s most respected voices to its coverage more regularly while extending the Inside the NBA brand beyond its usual studio window.While Smith isn’t Barkley when it comes to entertainment value, few, if any, are. He remains a charismatic and well-respected analyst and personality.Few shows today are as popular as Inside the NBAGettySmith (L) and Barkley (R) have worked with one another for decadesGettyThe Jet has been a staple of Inside the NBA since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured analysts not just in the NBA, but in television as a whole.For nearly three decades, Smith has helped define the show’s unique mix of basketball analysis and on-air entertainment, a role he will now carry across multiple ESPN programs.Fans were excited to hear that Smith would have an expanded presence, while joking that the rest of the gang wouldn’t let him hear the end of it.“This on brand for Kenny. His basketball mind needs to be shown more places,” one fan posted on X.“Is this the same Kenny the Jet Smith who was clowning Barkley about kissing up to ESPN on their premiere episode of Inside the NBA,” another fan joked.“The next episode of inside the NBA might be the funniest piece of media ever created,” one more fan suggestedStay up to date with the latest from the NBA across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.