Charles Barkley recently discussed the likely end of "Inside The NBA" during an appearance on 'Podcast P.' He reflected on his 24-year tenure and the significant impact the show has had on his life and the lives of his colleagues. He shared his emotional struggle, knowing that the show might be coming to an end. The staff had a strong sense that this would happen, and it wasn't a well-kept secret.
"The people, because you got to understand some, if you've been at the same job for 24 years, when I got there, some of them people didn't have kids. Then you say, man, they graduated high school. Now they've graduated college. And you're like, man, the first time you came in here, you were like six years old."
"Then the next time I saw you, you were in high school going to the prom, then you were like off to college, and now they've all graduated from college. So these people become part of your family. We work one day a week doing the regular season."
"But during the playoffs, we like, we work like every night for like two straight months. If you see the same people for two straight months, you're like, for 24 years, you know them, you know their kids, you know their husbands, you know their wives."
"That's what I feel really s***y about. Because, you know, I was telling somebody the other night, we were sitting around smoking cigars, and I said, yo, man, this has been really depressing for me because we kind of knew we were going to lose the thing. I mean, it was one of the worst kept secrets in the history of civilization."
"We were traveling for the conference finals, and then we did a couple of games on NBA TV in the finals. I was taking everybody out, trying to keep their spirits up, and they were like, man, I'm married. I got a wife. I got kids. I got a mortgage. And I ain't got no job. It really hurt me that people of my friends was talking like that."
"And I was like, man, I ain't never been in that situation in my life where I was going to lose my job and I had a family to take care of. And it was really heartbreaking. It just really sucks, man. And I can't believe we screwed it up. So next year is going to be a bittersweet year."
Barkley emphasized the deep bonds formed with his colleagues over the years. He mentioned that many of the staff members had started their families during their time on the show, watching their children grow up. The close-knit nature of the team made the potential end of the show even more poignant. Barkley found it heartbreaking to hear his friends express their fears about job security, something he had never personally experienced to that extent.
Barkley also talked about the legal battle between TNT and the NBA regarding broadcasting rights.
"So we filed a lawsuit. What I think and I'm what I'm talking about. I think the NBA said you can match, but they met ESPN or NBC. You don't get the match the Amazon offer. I'm sure with Adam Silver... yeah, y'all had the right to match, but it had to match NBC or ESPN because when we said y'all could match, Amazon didn't exist."
"I don't think Adam would leave himself open to lose a lawsuit. He was a lawyer and I think he's too smart. We have filed a lawsuit, but I think the NBA is like, yes, too late, we don't care. You guys sued to get the Amazon package."
"But when we signed the original deal like six, eight years ago, y'all had to match NBC or ESPN, which is like another 500 million a year. And I think our people like, we're going to try to match the cheapest one. And Adam's like, yeah, that's not going to work. Y'all could match, but y'all had to match the bigger number."
"So I don't think Adam is dumb enough where he would open this up to lose that lawsuit. First of all, I'm not even sure why we sued. Hey, they want to break up with us. I don't want no woman who I gotta sue to say, hey, you gotta stay with me. No, all right, now kick rocks, girl."
He explained that TNT had filed a lawsuit to retain the rights to broadcast NBA games, competing against offers from other networks like ESPN and NBC. Barkley doubted the lawsuit's success, given NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's legal expertise and the unlikelihood of Silver making a mistake that could lead to a loss in court.
Reflecting on the situation, Barkley questioned the rationale behind the lawsuit, suggesting that if the NBA wanted to move on, perhaps it was better to let them. He expressed a pragmatic view, likening the situation to a relationship where one party wants to end things, implying that it might be better to accept the breakup rather than fight it.
Overall, Barkley's reflections highlight the deep personal connections formed over the years and the complex emotions surrounding the potential end of "Inside The NBA." He emphasized the familial bonds with his colleagues and the challenges they face as they contemplate an uncertain future.
Related: Charles Barkley Calls Out The NBA And Says That He Will Leave TNT If They Do Not Pay His $210 Million Contract In Full
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