Charles Barkley knows TNT Sports can’t fire him during their final season with the NBA, and it seems like he plans on reminding everyone of it again and again and again.
For those keeping score, Barkley is already 2-2 this season. Inside the NBA has had two episodes during its final season on TNT Sports, and Barkley has made two “can’t fire us” jokes.
Barkley gained some attention toward the end of Thursday night’s Inside the NBA, telling Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, “It’s 12:29…we’re walking out of here at 1 o’clock…what are they gonna do, fire us?”
“12:29… We’re walking out of here at 1 o’clock… What are they gonna do, fire us?” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/U65GDIy545
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 25, 2024
“You’re getting closer and closer to that line,” Johnson said with a chuckle. “You’re gonna just unwittingly cross that line one of these nights.”
Smith laughed at the idea of Barkley “unwittingly” crossing that line, noting the basketball Hall-of-Famer spent most of his summer poking their bosses at Warner Bros. Discovery for losing its NBA rights, ending TNT’s 35-year partnership with the league. And it wasn’t just over the summer, Barkley got close to that same line during Inside the NBA’s season opener Tuesday night.
For those keeping score, Barkley also made a “they can’t fire us” joke Tuesday night https://t.co/H7KTBJFZnr pic.twitter.com/DgHI9WuB99
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 25, 2024
“First of all, they can’t fire us,” Barkley said. “We walking out of here at 1 a-clock. We walking out of here at 1 a-clock! 1 a.m., we’re walking out of this thing. Hey, Kenny, what are they gonna do to us?”
That’s two episodes of Inside the NBA this season, and two “they can’t fire us” jokes from Barkley. It’s safe to assume there will be more “can’t fire us” jokes and more hijinks that unwittingly or wittingly cross the line. Because let’s face it, they can’t fire Barkley, Ernie, Kenny or Shaq this season.
Well, they can, but the line of demarcation has undoubtedly been pushed further away. A few years ago, Barkley ranted about his bosses at TNT, calling them “cowards” for asking him to stop making jokes about the “big ol’ women in San Antonio.” Those jokes are probably coming back this season. What are they going to do, fire him?
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com