Charles Barkley
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Former NBA player and current TV analyst Charles Barkley.
NBA legend Charles Barkley made some bold comments about ESPN and how the network has used the “Inside the NBA” show this season. The former TNT show to follow NBA games every week reached an end with the NBA television rights changes this season. ESPN licensed “Inside the NBA” to continue having the crew of Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson discuss the NBA on their network.
However, Barkley spoke on The Dan Patrick Show about his unhappiness over the lack of television appearances so far:
“We’ve complained, we’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months. I don’t like that at all. What I was talking about working all the time, because I love watching basketball – I’m not going to do all these damn shows.
I’m not going to be on ESPN One, Two, Three, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not going to be doing all that, but I wish we had been on more during the first half of the season.”
Barkley joked about his previous comments about not wanting to get overworked by ESPN like many of their personalities. However, he is speaking bluntly about ESPN barely using them after the big news of adding the popular crew to their network.
Charles Barkley Has Justified Concerns
ESPN still hosts a handful of national games every week since they remain one of the most important NBA networks. Amazon Prime and NBC have joined ESPN to replace the former TNT coverage that existed for decades. Most fans have enjoyed the new dynamic of new personalities and presentations covering the games to freshen things up.
However, the sad news of TNT losing the NBA was most discussed last season due to “Inside the NBA” holding relevance around the league and the NBA fan base. ESPN has been criticized for years over their lackluster NBA studio team, so many expected the former TNT names to take over more of a role there.
Only a handful of appearances for “Inside the NBA” sees ESPN sticking with their usual studio team. Barkley is not out of line for feeling confused over ESPN barely utilizing one of their most valued assets in all of sports media.
Charles Barkley Not Afraid Of ESPN
The same interview featured Barkley making it clear he has no fear for ESPN, since some of the other employees do. Dan Patrick asked Barkley in the same interview if ESPN has stepped in to stop him from taking shots or criticizing other personalities on the air.
“They can fire me,” Barkley responded. “I got seven years on my contract. I’m 100 percent retired, but if I can do something just a little bit stupid so they have to fire me, they’ll have to pay me for the whole seven years.”
Time will tell if ESPN opts to use the “Inside the NBA” crew more in the second half of the season as the importance kicks up. Fans will start to express more unhappiness over the beloved show not being around if ESPN continues to snub Barkley and company going into the playoffs.