NBA icon Charles Barkley recently opened up about the substantial financial hit he took out of loyalty to his colleagues at TNT Sports. Appearing on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” earlier this month, Barkley revealed that he turned down offers worth over $100 million to remain with TNT, where he has been a cornerstone of the “Inside the NBA” show for more than 25 years.
Barkley, who recently saw his CNN show “King Charles” with Gayle King canceled, explained that his decision was driven by his commitment to the team he’s built strong relationships with at TNT.
One For the Team
Despite receiving lucrative proposals from other major networks, Barkley prioritized the job security of his colleagues, especially with the anticipated shift of NBA broadcasting rights Amazon.
The conversation with LeBatard turned to the future of “Inside the NBA,” now that TNT Sports is set to lose its NBA media rights after the 2024-25 season.
In July 2024, it was announced that TNT had been outbid by Amazon, with the league entering a long-term agreement with the tech giant Warner Bros.
The NBA today announced the renewal of its partnership with The Walt Disney Company and new agreements with NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Amazon under which ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video will telecast NBA games beginning with the 2025-26 season and running through the 2035-36…
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 24, 2024
USA Today reported that Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, said it matched Amazon Prime Video’s offer, but the league disagreed, leading to the impending transition.
At the time, Barkley, who is a 61-year-old free agent, considered leaving and retiring.
On the show, the hosts delved into the fact that “Inside the NBA” won’t look the same without the partnership with the league. Barkley agreed and expressed concern about the potential challenges this shift could bring.
“What’s crazy I think we’re going to have to pay for highlights,” he said when talking about the pending switch of rights.
He noted the significant impact this would have on the show’s format, emphasizing that “Inside the NBA” would look drastically different without NBA video footage and that he knows the producers will be pitching him and his colleagues all sorts of funny bits to supplement the footage.
Despite the change, he is cemented in staying.
“It is such a fluid situation,” Barkley explained. “We got the NBA all next year no matter … and it’s going to be interesting what crazy ideas they come to us with going forward.
Quickly the 11-time NBA All Star said, “The number one thing for me is my people at Turner keep their jobs for at least another year. That’s all I was concerned with.”
The host then asked, “Charles how much money do you think that you left on the table in making that decision… concerned about others?”
The Hall of Famer responded, “A minimum of $100 million.”
This is not the first time that Barkley has publicly said he would honor the 10-year contract extension he signed with TNT Sports in 2022, even though he initially said he would leave.
In an Aug. 6 statement, Barkley reaffirmed his dedication to his TNT Sports family, particularly those who don’t share his estimated net worth of $60 million.
“My number one priority has always been our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible,” Barkley said, according to NBA.com.
He added that he’s excited about the future, both with the shows currently on air and new projects in development. “This is the only place for me,” he concluded.
Since joining TNT in 2000, Barkley has been an integral part of “Inside the NBA,” contributing to its 21 Sports Emmy Awards and setting a high standard for studio shows. In May, he earned his fifth Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Analyst, further cementing his legacy in sports broadcasting.
