Charles Barkley Slams NBA for Taking Amazon Broadcast Deal — Claims TNT Matched Offer But League Chose ‘Money Over the Fans’

TNT

Charles Barkley on Friday called out the NBA for choosing Amazon’s media rights deal despite the fact that TNT had allegedly matched it.

The league announced the long-term deal Wednesday. In its statement, the NBA claimed the decision was made based on TNT’s decision not to match the terms of Amazon’s deal. Because of this, the next media deal — which goes into effect after the 2024-25 season — will include Amazon, ESPN, and NBC. That leaves TNT, as well as its hit show Inside the NBA , out of NBA coverage after next season.

Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company, had the contractual right to match; both Barkley and WBD CEO David Zaslav have made that known on multiple occasions. Now, the company has stated it plans to take “appropriate action” after the league rejected its matching offer. The matter could get taken to court.

Barkley previously placed the blame on TNT and WBD for the inability to get a deal done. Based on his statement published Friday, that frustration is now directed at the league for rejecting the offer.

“Clearly the NBA wanted to break up with us from the beginning,” Barkley said. “I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to piss them off.

“It’s a sad day owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.

“I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans — the best fans in sports. We’re going to give you everything we have next season.”

Barkley announced during the NBA Finals that next season would be his last in broadcasting. Rivals networks, however, have floated the idea of talking him out of retirement by hiring the entire Inside the NBA crew elsewhere.