Charles Barkley claims TNT has no idea what "Inside Guys" will work on if $19.8 billion NBA deal pursuit falls apart
Charles Barkley has revealed that his current employers at TNT have no clue what the plan of action is for "Inside The NBA" crew after their contract with the league ends next year. TNT, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, lost the NBA's media rights deal this summer after Adam Silver and Co. struck a deal with Amazon, NBC and Disney, worth a combined $76 billion for 11 years, starting from the 2025-26 season.
While discussing his potential retirement and TNT's future on Bill Russell's podcast, Barkley said:
"I have zero idea what we're gonna do. 'Cause we won't have basketball ... What makes it even funnier, they [TNT] don't even have no idea what we're going to do."
Barkley revealed TNT intends to keep the band together, but they haven't "figured out" what their work would be after seeing their ties with the NBA cut down a year from now.
(You can listen to Charles Barkley's comments from the 1:17:00 mark).
TNT had the right to match the $19.8 billion partnership between Amazon and the NBA. However, the parties are involved in a legal dispute after Warner Bros. Discovery claimed to match Amazon's $1.8 billion annual deal, which the NBA disputed, saying every last term and condition was not agreed on.
TNT's future with the NBA remains uncertain ahead of the upcoming season, likely the company's final one with the league.
Charles Barkley believes NBA has wanted to split with TNT for a long time
In July, Charles Barkley went on a passionate rant on Instagram. The former NBA MVP said TNT matched the money, but the league decided to move ahead with Amazon's partnership because it's among the only broadcasting companies that can better the deals 11 years later.
"The NBA didn't want to p*ss them off," Barkley wrote. "It's a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over fans. It just sucks."
Barkley added that he would give everything to TNT and the fans who have diligently watched "Inside The NBA" for years. The Hall of Famer announced his retirement during the NBA Finals last season, saying the next year would be his last regardless of what happened with the media rights deal.
Barkley remains a hot candidate for existing broadcasters to pursue. He has gone back and forth on his retirement plans in the past, and a lucrative contract could sway his decision to call time on his broadcasting career.