Charles Barkley will both stay with TNT Sports activities on his 10-year, $210 million contract or he’ll take heed to gives from ESPN, NBC and Amazon Prime Video as he reconsiders retirement, he instructed The Athletic on Friday.
“My deal is 10 years, $210 million,” Barkley stated in a cellphone interview. “Turner has to come back to me ASAP and so they have to ensure my complete factor or they’ll provide me a pay reduce, which there isn’t a likelihood of that occuring and I’ll be (a) free agent.
“My factor was, ‘Wait, y’all f— up, I didn’t f— up, why do I’ve to take a pay reduce?”
Barkley is within the third yr of his deal.
The NBA introduced this week new offers value a complete of $77 billion over 11 years with incumbent ESPN and newcomers NBC and Amazon. Within the course of, the NBA rejected TNT Sports activities’ matching rights. TNT Sports activities filed a swimsuit towards the league in hopes of taking on Amazon’s deal, it introduced Friday.
“I wouldn’t need them to sue,” Barkley stated. “The NBA clearly needed to interrupt up with us. I don’t wish to be in a relationship the place I’ve to sue anyone to be in it. That makes zero sense.
“If you must sue anyone to remain in a relationship, do you assume that may be a wholesome relationship?”
TNT Sports activities assertion on NBA media rights: pic.twitter.com/C14DPCJ65P
— TNT Sports activities U.S. PR (@TNTSportsUS) July 26, 2024
Earlier Friday, Barkley launched a press release by means of Bleacher Report saying that he didn’t really feel the NBA needed to do a take care of TNT Sports activities, which has had a relationship with the league for practically 4 a long time.
“It’s going to all go to streaming in 11 years,” Barkley instructed The Athletic. “I believe that is only a money seize, however they wanted streaming as a result of in 11 years no one’s going to have the ability to afford these rights however streaming.
“They’re sort of getting their cake and consuming it, too. They acquired ESPN and NBC and so they acquired streaming.”
Through the NBA Finals, Barkley, 61, stated he deliberate to retire. He isn’t absolutely backing off these statements, however his ears will probably be open if he isn’t paid in full by TNT Sports activities.
Barkley stated he has talked with ESPN, NBC and Amazon for the final couple of months.
“Proper now, I’m planning on retiring,” Barkley stated. “I’m not making an attempt to do something.”
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Barkley stated he can be “silly” to not pay attention and knowledgeable the entities of his plans, however he needed them to have their packages squared away.
“However from a compensation standpoint, I stated, ‘I’ll sit down and see what y’all are going to have going ahead,’” Barkley stated. “I’ve been straight trustworthy with all the businesses.”
Barkely stated he’s nonetheless hesitant to not have his complete “Contained in the NBA” workforce, together with host Ernie Johnson and co-analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, plus the behind-the-scenes TNT folks he adores. He expects subsequent yr, its remaining season, to be particular.
“We’re going to exit with a bang,” Barkley stated.
Barkley stated Johnson gained’t go to a brand new community, whereas he has not checked in on O’Neal’s or Smith’s plans. The Athletic was instructed from sources briefed on the opposite networks’ plans that they may provide to let Barkley and the total crew, together with Johnson, the possibility to stay in Atlanta and do the identical present.
“Every thing remains to be on the desk,” Barkley stated.
Barkley reiterated the folks he actually feels unhealthy for on this complete state of affairs are those behind the scenes who aren’t making tens of millions.
“I really feel unhealthy for the folks I work with,” Barkley stated. “Numerous good folks will lose their jobs. I’ve to present TNT credit score, they tried the whole lot to attempt to keep within the relationship, however the NBA needed to maneuver on. It’s that straightforward.”
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(Photograph: Steven Freeman / NBAE by way of Getty Pictures)
