"You've never had a real job" - Charles Barkley jokes about LinkedIn responding to his TNT bio on the job-focused platform
Amid the uncertainty surrounding TNT's future NBA broadcasting rights, "Inside the NBA" co-host Charles Barkley touched on his potential post-TNT career. While doing so, the NBA legend quipped about experiencing difficulty job hunting on LinkedIn.
With the NBA's media rights deal set to conclude after next season, it is negotiating a new contract. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the league is "closing in on" a massive 11-year, $76 billion deal with NBCUniversal, Disney and Amazon.
The deal would likely signal the end of the NBA's longtime partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT's parent company. If so, the American TV network, which has been broadcasting NBA games since 1989, would lose its coverage rights. That would mark the end of TNT's beloved show "Inside the NBA."
On Monday, Barkley guest starred on ESPN's Game 2 NHL Stanley Cup Final broadcast. Joining analysts Steve Levy, Mark Messier and P.K. Subban, the 61-year-old was asked how TNT's negotiations with the league were going.
Barkley quipped about the prospects of being unemployed after next year and needing to find a new job. He comically added that LinkedIn, an employment-focused social media platform, wasn't impressed by his resume.
"Listen, I wish I had a job next year," Barkley said. "I'm on LinkedIn. I put on my resume. They were like, 'You've never had a real job.' I said, 'That's not my fault.'"
While Charles Barkley may not retain his role at TNT, he should have no shortage of suitors if he enters the open market.
The former MVP has firmly established himself as one of the premier sports media personalities, revered by most NBA fans. He also showcased his versatility on Monday, breaking down the Florida Panthers' Game 2 matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
Also Read: "Gary Bettman gets me seats": Charles Barkley's hilarious response to ranking Shaquille O'Neal and the NHL commissioner on his best friends list
Adam Silver on NBA potentially losing Charles Barkley and Co.'s beloved show "Inside the NBA"
During his Thursday press conference ahead of the start of this year's NBA Finals, NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke about the league's media rights deliberations. While Silver didn't go into financial specifics, he touched on the possibility of "Inside the NBA" concluding if TNT is excluded from the deal.
Silver highlighted how difficult his decision-making process has been, given how impactful the show has been to so many NBA fans. He also referenced his close relationship with the show's adored crew featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson Jr.
“It has been difficult. That show in particular is special,” Silver said. “I have a close relationship with everyone who’s on that show, from the time they played in the league, as well, and Ernie and I have been friends forever."
However, Silver added that "at the end of the day there’s only going to be so many television packages" and "so many finals games, playoff games and regular-season games to distribute.”
So, it appears that fans should continue bracing themselves for TNT potentially losing its NBA broadcasting rights.
Watch: Furious Charles Barkley threatens to punch a trolling fan on street: "He would've felt bad if I would've punched him"