CHARLES Barkley opened up about the uncertainty surrounding Inside the NBA’s impending move to ESPN.
Inside the NBA has been a successful basketball TV show for TNT Sports since 1989, but the network will lose its rights with the NBA beginning in the 2025-26 season.
Charles Barkley has worked for TNT Sports as an analyst for Inside the NBA since 2000[/caption]
Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson have had to be asked about their show’s new partnership with ESPN since the move became official last fall.
TNT’s Warner Bros. Discover licensed the Inside the NBA program to ESPN.
TNT will independently produce the show, and it will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC this fall.
While ESPN won’t have any editorial control over Inside the NBA, there is still uneasiness over how the partnership will go, and Barkley is expressing “concern”, the same word O’Neal has previously phrased the situation.
“We’re all concerned, I’m not gonna lie to you,” Barkley said during an appearance on 680 The Fan in Atlanta.
“Because we just don’t know.
“So I wish I could give you a definite answer, but we made the move, and we’re gonna see.
“Like I said, it’s gonna be cool working for ESPN.
“ESPN’s the most famous network in the world for sports, and it’s gonna be an honor to work there.”
Smith has recently said he’s “uncomfortable” with the move to ESPN.
Barkley, Shaq, and Smith’s awkward feelings come after they met with both TNT Sports and ESPN to talk about the show’s plans.
One concern has been the potential workload, although Inside the NBA will be broadcast much less than it was on TNT.
Barkley has shared he’s willing to work remotely on ESPN’s studio shows.
He’s appeared on Get Up and even First Take in the past.
However, Barkley hasn’t been on board with being a regular on the shows.
Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Barkley seen on a broadcast before an NBA Cup game[/caption]
“They’ve been trying to get me my entire career,” the 62-year-old said about ESPN.
“But you know, I made a great decision going to Turner because it’s amazing.”
Barkley has worked for TNT since 2000.
The NBA icon and the rest of the crew will still technically be employees of TNT Sports despite the show airing on ESPN.
