While the future of the NBA on TNT remains in limbo, Charles Barkley expects a decision to be made by the network on Friday, May 3.
TNT’s exclusive negotiation window with the NBA expired last month. With ESPN appearing set to sign a new deal with the league, and Amazon reportedly agreeing to a rights package, TNT is currently battling with NBC to keep NBA games, sparking concern about the future of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson as a quartet.
Barkley joined The Dan Patrick Show Friday morning and confirmed it’s a stressful time for all of them as they wait for TNT’s decision which is apparently imminent.
Charles Barkley told us that if TNT loses #NBA TV rights, he’ll become a free agent. He’s unsure about “Inside the NBA” moving to another network because the show wouldn’t be the same without Ernie Johnson. Ernie has said he isn’t leaving Turner.
A decision is expected today. pic.twitter.com/MRMnjBFDf1
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 3, 2024
“It’s nerve-racking for everybody. It’s very stressful, but I don’t think anybody knows,” Barkley told Patrick. “I love TNT. I hope we keep it, but right now – I talked to Ernie last night, I think they’re gonna make a decision by the end of the day and I don’t think any of us know what that decision is gonna be…but it’s very stressful at work right now.”
Barkley reiterated he can leave TNT if the network loses its NBA rights, but the prospect of free agency hasn’t been a source of comfort for the popular studio analyst. Ernie Johnson reportedly plans on staying at TNT regardless of the network’s future with the NBA. And while NBC would seemingly be smart to recruit Barkley, Shaq and Smith for a studio show if they land the NBA rights over TNT, it still puts the future of basketball’s most popular studio show in limbo.
“I don’t know how that works without Ernie to be honest with you,” Barkley said regarding the prospect of moving Inside the NBA to NBC. “And I can’t speak for NBC, I don’t know if they want all three of us…our show won’t be the same without Ernie. Ernie’s the most important person on our show.”
Patrick pitched Adam Lefkoe to replace the 69-year-old Ernie Johnson, and although Barkley said he loves working with Lefkoe, he reinforced the fact that it would still require a lot of maneuvering by NBC.
“I love Adam, but I can’t be giving other people jobs, Dan!” Barkley said. “That’s the thing that’s scary about this whole scenario, I can’t speak for Ernie, Kenny or Shaq.”
“We’ve been talking about it,” Barkley continued. “This is the first time we haven’t signed a deal during that exclusive window. It never went out for open bidding. Never in my 24 years. Every single year, we’ve always signed during the exclusive negotiating period, so it’s very stressful over here right now.”
Barkley reiterated TNT expects to make a decision on their future with the NBA on Friday, and to combat the stress of that imminent news, he plans on waiting for a phone call from his bosses while getting drunk on the golf course.
