Probably the most attention-grabbing potential free agent goal within the NBA is likely to be a 61-year-old who retired almost 25 years in the past.
TNT Sports activities analyst Charles Barkley told The Athletic on Friday that he would hearken to NBA companions ESPN/Disney, NBC and Amazon if the rest of his present 10-year contract with the cable community will not be honored. TNT Sports activities misplaced out on the NBA within the league’s not too long ago introduced 11-year, $76 billion rights settlement.
“My deal is 10 years, $210 million,” Barkley informed The Athletic. “[TNT Sports] has to return to me ASAP and so they have to ensure my entire factor or they’ll provide me a pay lower, which there isn’t a probability of that occuring and I will be [a] free agent.
“My factor was, ‘Wait, y’all f—ed up, I did not f— up, why do I’ve to take a pay lower?'”
Throughout the NBA Finals, with it a recognized risk that TNT Sports activities may lose its media rights, Barkley mentioned he would retire if he discovered himself out of a job. He nonetheless has seven years remaining on his deal. Barkley has been part of TNT Sports activities’ flagship “Contained in the NBA” present since 2000 and is a part of a major four-man crew together with host Ernie Johnson and fellow former NBA gamers Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.
Barkley mentioned that retirement continues to be the seemingly choice after TNT’s upcoming ultimate season broadcasting the NBA however that he can be “silly” to not hearken to provides from different networks.
“However from a compensation standpoint, I mentioned, ‘I’ll sit down and see what y’all are going to have going ahead,'” Barkley informed The Athletic. “I have been straight sincere with all the businesses.”
Barkley’s feedback got here on the identical day that TNT Sports activities’ dad or mum firm, Warner Bros. Discovery, filed a lawsuit against the NBA for rejecting its matching bid for a share of the league’s media rights.
Barkley mentioned he was towards the corporate suing the NBA.
“The NBA clearly wished to interrupt up with us. I do not need to be in a relationship the place I’ve to sue any person to be in it. That makes zero sense,” Barkley informed The Athletic. “If you need to sue any person to remain in a relationship, do you suppose that may be a wholesome relationship?”
Warner Bros. Discovery beforehand mentioned that it had matched Amazon’s provide at $1.8 billion per 12 months however that the league declined to just accept.
“Clearly the NBA has wished to interrupt up with us from the start. I am undecided TNT ever had an opportunity,” Barkley said in a statement. “TNT matched the cash, however the league is aware of Amazon and these tech firms are the one ones prepared to pay for the rights after they double sooner or later. The NBA did not need to piss them off. It is a unhappy day when house owners and commissioners select cash over the followers. It simply sucks.”
