NBA analyst Charles Barkley reminded everyone this week that he's quite the comedian.
Barkley, an 11-time All-Star, averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game during his incredible NBA career. Although it was a tough act to follow, he has managed to be equally successful as a broadcaster. His work with TNT Sports over the years has been sensational. That being said, he's now affiliated with ESPN. Let's just say their relationship didn't start off on the right foot. He called out the network for limiting his on-air opportunities.
"We've complained, we've only been on ESPN four times in three months," Barkley told Le Batard. "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 gonna be on ESPN One, Two, Three, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I'm not gonna be doing all that, but I wish we had been on more during the first half of the season."
With the 2025-26 season ramping up, Barkley and the "Inside the NBA" crew have seen an increase in their workload this month. That means there are more opportunities for the Hall of Famer to take jabs at his employer.
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
During Wednesday night's edition of "Inside the NBA," technical difficulties interrupted an interview with ESPN insider Shams Charania. Unsurprisingly, Barkley didn't miss his chance to make fun of ESPN.
"ESPN, pay your bills, man," Barkley said. "Pay your bills. I know times are tough."
Barkley then joked about Charania forgetting to pay his phone bills.
Will Charles Barkley stay with ESPN?
Back in July 2024, Barkley told The Athletic that he has a 10-year deal with TNT Sports. This was before ESPN got the rights to "Inside the NBA."
"My deal is 10 years, $210 million," Barkley told The Athletic. "[TNT Sports] has to come to me ASAP and they have to guarantee my whole thing or they can offer me a pay cut, which there is no chance of that happening and I'll be [a] free agent."
Barkley has joked about ESPN paying the remaining seven years on his contract. Suffice to say, he's not ready to retire.
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