When Inside The NBA moved to ESPN, Charles Barkley expressed the idea that he didn't want to be used all over the worldwide leader's shows.
But Chuck also wanted to be on TV occasionally.
In the first half of the NBA season, there's been very limited usage of the Inside The NBA crew of Ernie Johnson, Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith.
This isn't a surprise on paper. The schedule before the season showed how little they'd be on in the early going.
But it has gotten on Barkley's nerves.
He joined [The Dan LeBatard Show](https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/2014154440023191994?s=20) and shared these thoughts:
“When I was talking about working all the time, I’m not going to do all these d--- shows. I’m not going to be on ESPN 1, 2, 3, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not going to be doing all that. But I wish we’d have been on more during the first half of the season.”
That's a very Barkley answer in a lot of ways.
It's also a fair feeling. Inside The NBA was on a lot more when TNT still had its NBA rights.
Once TNT lost out in the bidding, everything changed. There was fear that the beloved show would go away entirely, but it was instead licensed to ESPN.
ESPN hasn't used the crew in the same way, though, often opting for its own standard pregame show. That has created a lack of opportunity for Barkley and his buddies to do their thing, which for so many years has been a greatly appreciated part of the NBA landscape.
**MORE:** [Joe Buck chimes in on criticism of Al Michaels' broadcasting](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/joe-buck-chimes-criticism-al-michaels-broadcasting/5d6527217f172bf7ea3d8f42)