Broadcasting free company was a “humbling” expertise for Charles Barkley, who left “at minimal $100 million” on the desk to return to Turner Sports activities amid uncertainty surrounding TNT’s NBA area.
When showing on “The Dan Le Batard Present with Stugotz” on Tuesday, Barkley was requested about his dedication to TNT following June’s surprising retirement bombshell as hypothesis swirled whether or not guardian firm Warnes Bros. Discovery would lose its NBA media rights after the 2024-25 season.
“The No. 1 factor for me is my folks at Turner get to maintain their jobs for no less than one other 12 months, that’s all I used to be involved with,” Barkley mentioned.
Le Batard then requested Barkley the obvious nine-figure query.
“How a lot cash do you suppose you left on the desk in making that call involved about others?” Le Batard mentioned, to which Barkley replied, “A minimal of $100 million.”
“It was an excellent feeling and I wish to thank all these networks for reaching out to me, it was actually humbling and funky. … Like I mentioned, Dan, despite the fact that they have been throwing loopy numbers I used to be like, ‘Rattling,’ however so long as I received my folks secure at TNT, man, I really feel actually good. Like I say, they going to pay me to go discuss nothing so I can’t look a present horse within the mouth. I most likely would have needed to do an sincere day’s work if I went to a kind of different networks,” the Corridor of Famer, 61, mentioned.
Barkley has been an analyst for TNT since 2000, showing on “Contained in the NBA” alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.
The way forward for the beloved program turned an enormous query mark in Could when it was reported the NBA was formalizing offers with Disney, NBC and Amazon for brand new rights contracts that will start for 2025-26.
Weeks later, whereas masking the NBA Finals, Barkley mentioned the 2024-25 season can be his ultimate one on the small display.
“I’ve made the choice myself — it doesn’t matter what occurs — subsequent 12 months goes to be my final 12 months on tv,” mentioned Barkley, who talked about he spoke to different networks.
Plans then shifted, when TNT and Barkley “reaffirmed his long-term dedication” in a joint assertion earlier this month — two years after events agreed to a 10-year deal.
“I really like my TNT Sports activities household. My #1 precedence has been and at all times might be our folks and maintaining everybody collectively for so long as attainable. Now we have essentially the most wonderful folks, and they’re the very best at what they do. I’m wanting ahead to persevering with to work with them each on the reveals we presently have and new ones we develop collectively sooner or later. That is the one place for me,” Barkley mentioned in his assertion.
“I’ve to say … I’ve been impressed by the management group who’s preventing exhausting and have been aggressive in including new properties to TNT Sports activities, which I’m very enthusiastic about. I respect them and all of my colleagues for his or her continued help, and most significantly our followers. I’m going to offer my all as we maintain them entertained for years to come back.”
The NBA media rights cleaning soap opera is way from over, nonetheless, as WBD sued the league in July over an identical rights clause in its contract.
TNT matched Amazon’s rights package deal, a supply confirmed to The Submit’s Ryan Glasspiegel, whereas the NBA mentioned the community “didn’t match the phrases” of Amazon’s.
