Even though Charles Barkley is already jokingly filling out job applications, we shouldn’t count out Warner Bros. Discovery’s chances at securing NBA rights just yet.
While it seems clear that the NBA’s time on TNT is nearing its end at this point, Adam Silver isn’t ready to call it quite yet. Perhaps that’s just public posturing from the NBA commissioner, especially with the NBA reportedly finalizing an agreement with Disney (ESPN), Comcast (NBC) and Amazon (Prime Video) this week, but Silver made it known that talks with TNT aren’t dead — yet.
That’s at least what he told TMZ Sports on Friday.
Adam Silver Says NBA’s Negotiations W/ TNT Not Dead Yet, ‘We’re All Still Talking’ | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/IYdUL4gY3j
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 25, 2024
Considering the recent headlines about Inside the NBA, Silver was asked about what might be the next chapter for media veterans like Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.
“Ah, no, we’re never gonna lose Charles and Kenny,” he said. “They’re always going to be covering the NBA.”
Silver added that he can’t imagine that the Inside the NBA crew won’t be performing or announcing together — in some capacity — in the future.
But will it be for TNT Sports?
“Who knows? We’re all still talking,” Silver said. “Who knows how it’s gonna work out?”
Obviously not an answer that will resonate with the masses, but it appears talks with TNT still might not be officially over, despite recent reports that suggested the NBA on TNT would be over due to a quarrel over a $200 million dispute.
It remains to be seen if this was just lip service or a negotiating ploy by Silver, who made these comments outside of Thursday’s White House state dinner in D.C. In any event, fans of Inside the NBA should hold onto a sliver of hope for now.
[TMZ]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.