Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley is aware that TNT Sports is facing stiff competition to retain the right to broadcast the NBA on TV, and has taken steps to ensure he will not be left in the cold should another broadcaster take over.
Sports broadcasting rights deals have expanded in the last few years, with Amazon Prime securing rights to NBA games, on top of the streaming platform having rights to stream MLB games, as part of its growing portfolio of sports programming. Meanwhile, NBC Sports is also aiming to make a bid for the NBA broadcasting rights after it last showed the games in the early 2000s.
Charles Barkley ‘looking out for himself' in adding escape clause to recent contract extension
In an interview with ESPN Cleveland, the 16-year pro basketball veteran and now Inside the NBA co-host said when he signed a contract extension with TNT Sports, he had certain provisions baked in his deal that will allow him to become a free agent and move to a different network covering the NBA (starting at the 8:38 mark).
“Obviously we saw it, and it's a really big deal. And I covered my a**, to be honest with you…I just signed a 10-year deal two years ago, and one of the things I did [was to] put an opt-out [clause] after a couple of years [just] in case…it comes to this situation,” Barkley said in the interview. “I just want to make sure I look out for myself. I sit back [and] listen, I'm going to see what happens.”
When pressed about keeping the band of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal, he said: “It's not that important to me. Me and Ernie [Johnson] were planning on leaving. We were planning on leaving soon anyway…'cause Ernie want wanted to retire.
“But when Amazon said they were interested in the NBA, we clearly had to listen,” Barkley added. “In my conversations with people, I don't know if they want the whole team or not… I made sure I looked out for myself.
LeBron James should retire ‘sooner rather than later,' says Barkley
During the same interview, Charles Barkley also gave his two cents on when LeBron James should decide to hang it up and call it a day.
“I hope he retires while he can still play,” Barkley said. “I saw Michael Jordan [play] with the [Washington] Wizards and it was not pretty. I saw Patrick Ewing with the Orlando Magic. I would love to see [LeBron James] retire sooner rather than later…because it ends badly when you keep on playing.”
James made rounds on social media to address the future of his playing career.
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