The legendary and lovable quartet that comprised TNT’s “Inside the “NBA” — Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson — is probably done forever.
According to reports, NBC outbid TNT for the right to broadcast the NBA games on their network, thereby likely ending the reign of the universally beloved team of sports analysts at TNT.
Barkley, in particular, is deeply concerned about the future of professional basketball on TNT. According to The Ringer, David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company, has said that the network does not “have to have the NBA.”
Barkley was queried about the situation when he appeared on ESPN Radio.
“Am I concerned? 100 percent,” Barkley told ESPN. “We have zero idea what’s going to happen. We might lose [the media rights deal]. I feel so bad for the people I work with. It is brutal. It is flat out brutal. Everyone is scared to death.”
Charles Barkley on TNT's future with the @NBA
"I am concerned…100%"
Full interview: https://t.co/MqIrVh1020@waddleandsilvy @twaddle87 @tyleraki_ @Jeff_Meller pic.twitter.com/yx3zDJ6P0q
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) May 14, 2024
“This is the first time during the exclusive window that we did not re-sign in advance,” added Barkley. “I will tell you this. It’s very stressful for the people I work with. We might lose it. It’s 50-50 if we lose our part to NBC.”
Well, according to The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, the end of the NBA on TNT era is fast approaching. “It’s a wrap,” he said.
