Charles Barkley to command over $20 million per year as ESPN, Amazon, NBC lineup with offers

Charles Barkley and the Inside the NBA crew will last be seen together next season.

Charles Barkley to command over $20 million per year as ESPN, Amazon, NBC lineup with offers

Charles Barkley

Now that the NBA has decided to go in a different direction, the narrative now has changed to the future of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew. Many have expressed their disappointment knowing next season will likely be the last time they will be together. Interestingly, it seems ESPN, Amazon and NBC, who won the bid, are interested in the four.

Reporter Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports revealed that his sources have informed him that the lines outside the offices of the quartet are filled with executives from the three companies. 

The Chuckster could command $20 million–plus offers from the NBA’s new trio of rights partners: newcomer Prime; incumbent ABC/ESPN; and former broadcast partner NBC. ESPN is already eying Barkley and the entire cast of Inside the NBA, say my sources. Ditto for Amazon Prime.
Michael McCarthy wrote

Suggesting that they all want the four to move out of TNT and join one of them. However, all four signed extensions in October 2022.

FS Video
YouTube video

However, Charles Barkley has an exit clause that would make him a free agent if TNT lost the deal. That means, even if the others cannot move, he will be heavily pursued by the deal-winning companies. But the crew as a whole is why the show won that many Emmys and is a fan favorite.

ESPN, Amazon, and NBC will try to pry them together. However, what happens to the rest of the crew of Inside the NBA is a major question mark. As it is not just these four, but the entire contingent that makes the show popular.

Charles Barkley could ditch retirement for the right deal

Charles Barkley has already declared that he is retiring. He does not want to start again with a new network and work through the growing pains. However, many say it could be just a plot for him to get the entire crew recruited together, suggesting that a good offer could sway his decision.

The three companies who have won the bid have significant financial resources at their disposal, unlike TNT. They could offer the quartet and if not all, at least a good part of the background crew to move from WBD. If such a scenario does come by, then it is possible that Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson could be tempted to continue.

All that is possible, however, it must be noted that Johnson will likely retire. Smith has his eye on a GM job in the NBA. That leaves half a billion worth Shaquille O’Neal, who may just want to do what he has his eyes on.

In case you missed: