Charles Barkley has additional defined his determination to retire from TV on the finish of the 2024-25 season, explaining that he needs to remain loyal to TNT and Warner Bros. Discovery.
“I wouldn’t really feel comfy going to work for an additional community,” Barkley stated on CNBC. “It’ll be 25 years that I’ve been working with Turner, and I like everyone at Turner. However at this age, to go over and begin over, I don’t know if I wish to do this.”
The NBA finalized media rights offers with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday, and a few started to invest that Barkley could possibly be a part of a bidding struggle from all three corporations.
However cash isn’t one thing that can entice Chuck.
“Hey, if I don’t have the funds for by now, I’m the most important fool, idiot on this planet,” Barkley stated. “And, hey, critically, if I don’t have the funds for by now, I’ve been so fortunate and blessed. I performed within the NBA for 15 years. I’ve been on tv for twenty-four years. If I don’t have the funds for by now, I’m the most important loser on this planet.”
Little doubt the murky way forward for TNT made up a part of Barkley’s determination.
“I actually really feel dangerous for everyone at TNT — all of the folks I’ve been working with for the final 24 years, they’re like household to me,” Barkley stated. “I truthfully, in my coronary heart, I believe now we have misplaced the bundle. That is my trustworthy opinion. However I actually hope we get a last-minute reprieve for the folks at Turner.”
TNT nonetheless has the chance to match the contracts, The Athletic reported.
“The CEO of TNT Sports activities’ dad or mum firm, Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav, has publicly acknowledged he might try to make use of language within the present contract to stay concerned with the NBA,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported.
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