It’s rare for a TV show to be inducted into a hall of fame, but “NBA Inside Stuff” was anything but a typical program.

Now, 34 years after its debut, the beloved Saturday morning show that aired on NBC and ABC will receive the 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award.

This award honors individuals in print, electronic, and transformative media for their significant contributions to basketball, recognizing its seven-term president.

“This is truly an incredible honor,” exclaimed Willow Bay, a long-time co-host of “NBA Inside Stuff.” The celebration will reunite many former staff members during the enshrinement weekend in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

For nearly two decades, starting in 1990, Inside Stuff was a must-watch for passionate basketball fans, featuring popular recurring segments like “Jam Session,” which blended game highlights with the latest music, and “Rewind,” showcasing the funniest bloopers and insane shots from the week.

The show also appealed to casual NBA fans, offering glimpses into the lives of famous musical artists and celebrities including NSYNC, Britney Spears, and Spike Lee, as well as insights into the off-court lives of top athletes.

Before social media became prevalent and game highlights were easily accessible, hosts like Ahmad Rashad, Bay, and Summer Sanders, alongside a talented and close-knit crew, created captivating content on various topics. The show was filmed at NBA Entertainment in Secaucus, New Jersey, which is now home to a Red Robin restaurant.

“One of the truly special aspects of Inside Stuff was how we allowed players to share their personal stories. We visited their families and high schools, explored their hobbies, and at times we delved deep,” Bay remarked. “We covered topics such as war-torn nations, players dealing with learning disabilities, and those who had lost family members. We also helped our audience understand what it means to live with HIV. This, I believe, humanized the players for our viewers.”

There are many memorable features, including segments featuring Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who passed away on September 30.

“I hold great admiration for Dikembe and his legacy,” Sanders shared, recalling a feature where she learned how to properly perform Mutombo’s signature finger wag after blocking a shot.

“I discovered that it’s not about using your hand, it’s really just the finger,” Sanders explained as she demonstrated the correct technique.

In another segment, the light-hearted four-time Defensive Player of the Year humorously declared that his favorite restaurant, aptly named “Pasta, Pasta, Pasta,” specialized in—you guessed it—pasta. Another segment showcased the amusing challenges faced by the 7-foot-2 giant while traveling.

Mutombo humorously shared how he struggled to get a good night’s sleep because his legs extended beyond the length of a standard mattress. He also amusingly noted that he couldn’t see his face while washing it due to the height of the mirror meant for shorter individuals.

Ahmad Rashad vs. Shaq: ‘Is that all you got?’

Another memorable segment followed Rashad’s brief time as a player with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Similar to author George Plimpton’s experience with the 1963 Detroit Lions, which inspired his book “Paper Lion,” Rashad, a former NFL player, donned the Sixers’ uniform and even made his first shot in a preseason game.

“The main difference between me and George Plimpton was that I possessed some athletic talent,” noted Rashad, who held roles as co-host, executive producer, and managing editor. “I was confident I would make the shot.”

While the segment was entertaining, it also held significance in terms of setting a precedent for the access the show would gain.

During a shoot, Shaquille O’Neal broke the rim with a dunk.

As glass and debris fell around him, the gym fell silent.

“Everyone was in a frenzy,” recalled Rashad.

“We feared we might have just injured the NBA’s top rookie because we decided to play basketball with him during a shoot,” remembered Don Sperling, longtime executive producer at NBA Entertainment.

“When I realized he wasn’t hurt; he was just embarrassed, I walked over and joked, ‘Is that all you got?’ ” Rashad recounted.

The Birth of a New Genre

The combination of game highlights, entertaining segments, fresh music, and pop culture became the foundation for a new genre in sports media.

“Looking back today, sports not only reflect culture but also shape it,” remarked Bay. “During that time, the NBA was influencing culture, and so was Inside Stuff.”

The innovative concept for the show was developed by league executives, including Hall of Fame commissioners David Stern and Gary Bettman, along with creative producers like Ken Rosen, the show’s inaugural senior producer and director.

Stern came up with the show’s title due to its clever double meaning.

Rosen also mentioned in an interview with YSL News Sports that he drew inspiration for the show from the well-known MTV and CBS-syndicated program “Entertainment Tonight.”

“MTV, which started a decade earlier, was becoming a massive cultural influence,” Rosen noted. “We aimed to incorporate elements of what they were doing with music—like including videos and behind-the-scenes content—into our show. It turned out to be a great strategy.”

The show’s success can be attributed not just to the engaging hosts but also to a committed team of 15 staff members.

“Our slogan back then was ‘I love this game.’ Ultimately, that’s what it all boiled down to—everyone involved in the show was passionate about the game. We adored the players,” shared Sanders, who earned multiple medals in swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before becoming a television host.

The response from viewers was almost instant.

“I couldn’t attend a game at Madison Square Garden without someone trying to get on the show,” Rashad recalled. “Players would dash down the court, leap for a dunk, and shout at me, ‘Hey man, include that in Rewind.’ If I was present, it was like an audition for them.”

NBA players achieved celebrity status through visibility

The show didn’t just score high ratings; it also elevated the profiles of the players. It helped to highlight the iconic figures of the game and created an opportunity for others to show off their distinct and engaging personalities.

“Think about Tom Tolbert, Jerome Williams, and John Salley—’Inside Stuff’ was a spot-on fit for them,” Rubens commented. “Many fans weren’t familiar with these players until ‘Inside Stuff’ provided them a platform.”

Williams was a dynamic forward who had a solid nine-year career in the NBA, primarily with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. However, it was through his regular appearances on the show that the fan-favorite known as Junkyard Dog gained major recognition.

“The impact of ‘Inside Stuff’ on my image was immense,” Williams stated. “When I arrived at games, fans would hold up posters and wear my jerseys. This was typically reserved for franchise stars. But being on national TV allowed me to be part of that elite group.”

Now, the series is being celebrated alongside other prestigious shows.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be associated with this group and acknowledge the influence that this show had—not only on the NBA but also on popular culture,” said Bay, who serves as the dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.

Sanders is eagerly awaiting the weekend—not only to attend the enshrinement ceremony but also to reconnect with cherished friends and former colleagues she holds in high esteem.

“My NBA family occupies a very special place in my heart,” Sanders expressed. “Being around all these amazing people who contributed to such a fantastic decade of my life… I want to savor every moment.”