In the wake of an ongoing media dispute, the future of NBA broadcasting is facing major uncertainty right now. After TNT threatened legal action against the league for breaching their contract, Barkley released his own statement where he called out the NBA for putting the money over fans.
"Clearly the NBA wanted to break us up from the beginning. 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," wrote Barkley in a statement.
"It's a sad day when owners and commissioners chose 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, an 11x All-Star, has been a star of 'Inside the NBA' for decades now and he's made millions covering the game alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith. His countless comedic moments and candid coverage of the league often lead to viral moments that fans loved to watch.
But after a miraculous run on television, the show is finally coming to an end. The NBA, after their contract with WB/TNT Sports ended, terminated the deal in favor of Amazon who reportedly offered a more lucrative deal.
It wasn't until a few weeks later that the TNT network threatened to sue the NBA for breaching their contract, which they claim gave them the right to match any new media deal. So far, the possibility of a court battle has not swayed the NBA and they have shown no interest in going back on their deal with Amazon.
In the NBA's view, this new arrangement could help to further globalize the game and make their games more accessible than ever before. With Amazon's connections to the tech industry, it's also possible that Adam Silver wants to use more modern methods to help expand his audience.
Whatever the case, Charles Barkey is speaking for millions of people when he says the NBA is doing wrong by their fans. From their reaction online, it's clear that the majority of viewers would prefer to keep the show alive instead of handing the reigns to a new network and a whole new studio team.
Barkley Open To Leaving TNT If They Don't Pay Out His Contract In Full
Whatever happens with the Amazon deal, the TNT crew is moving like it's their last season and Barkley is already thinking about what comes next. Fortunately, it seems he's open to potentially joining the Amazon broadcast depending on what happens with his 10-year $210 million deal with TNT Sports.
“My deal is 10 years, $210 million,” Barkley said, via The Athletic . “Turner has to come to me ASAP and they have to guarantee my whole thing or they can offer me a pay cut, which there is no chance of that happening and I’ll be (a) free agent. My thing was, ‘Wait, y’all f–d up, I didn’t f–k up, why do I have to take a pay cut?”
Barkley, 61, was on the verge of retirement before accepting TNT's 10-year contract and he may consider it again after the final episode of 'Inside the NBA.' Of course, if he opts for the money, any broadcast show would love to have him on and the fans would surely embrace his return to TV.
Related: Charles Barkley On Why 1992 Dream Team Is Better Than 2024 Team USA
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