Even though ‘Inside the NBA’ will be moving to ESPN next season, it could be without one key star.
Through a partnership between ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery, the popular NBA show will run on ESPN, ensuring the show would remain on airwaves after TNT missed out on the league’s new 11-year, $76 billion TV deal with ABC/ESPN, NBC and Amazon.
While basketball fans were excited to see the cast of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal continue to talk hoops, Barkley revealed on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ on Wednesday he hasn’t fully committed to making the move and remains in talks with other networks.
‘I haven’t decided yet,” Barkley admitted. “I’m listening to NBC and Amazon. I want to know everything that’s on the table for me before I sign in. I love those guys at ESPN and if we end up there, I’m gonna do the best I possibly can.
‘First of all, they haven’t even given us any type of schedule, whatsoever. But I’d be doing myself a disservice not to meet with NBC −which I have − and meet with Amazon, which I have. And the number one thing I’ve told everybody, ‘Can y’all give me a damn schedule?’’ Barkley said.
Patrick, who previously worked for ESPN, told Barkley ‘you’re going to be working a lot more than you think you’re going to be working.’ Barkley said he wouldn’t be working ‘like no damn dog’ and doesn’t want to do ABC, ESPN and TNT work. Currently, Barkley works two days a week for ‘Inside the NBA,’ but he doesn’t want to work more than that.
‘I want it in writing how much we’re going to be working,’ Barkley added.
If Barkley opted to not be part of ‘Inside the NBA’ when it moves to ESPN, it would be a massive blow not just for show or fans, but for ESPN, who is a big part of the allure to move the show to the network. In 2022, TNT announced new deals for all of the talent to make sure ‘the team will remain together for many years to come.’ The New York Post reported Barkley’s deal was for 10 years and estimated to be worth $100 million to $200 million.
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