“These figures was not heard of…” Charles Barkley’s $200,000,000 TV deal details LEAKED by co-host Kenny Smith

It's possible that Charles Barkley won't stay with TNT for his full ten years.

“These figures was not heard of…” Charles Barkley’s $200,000,000 TV deal details LEAKED by co-host Kenny Smith

Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley (Credits: Imago)

Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal rejoiced upon learning that they had all inked long-term deals with Warner Bros. during the season premiere of Inside the NBA. On the wildly popular TNT program ‘Inside The NBA’, Kenny Smith is a mainstay. The former superstar makes an estimated $4 million a year as a crew member and is quite the analyst. However, Kenny had previously disclosed Barkley’s earnings and the terms of his deal.

On Big Boy TV, Kenny spoke out the specifics. Distracting the audience from his contract extension, he brought up the Charles Barkley deal. But before the extension deal, he discussed how much he was making on TNT.

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Kenny’s first salary was not much more than $100,000 annually. Fair enough, but his out-of-pocket expenses nearly amounted to $150,000, making his initial days at TNT extremely challenging. But now they’re flush with cash thanks to their new contracts.

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Smith has been cautious about sharing the specifics of his arrangement, though. In fact, by verifying Chuck’s $200,000,000 salary, he diverted attention from his contract. Kenny Smith said via Big Boy TV, 

Charles got $200,000,000. A $200,000,000 deal over the next 10 years. It was in the paper and I never put mine in the papers. I ain't trying to be followed home. All I know is that these figures was not heard of.

Together, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Charles Barkley make up the funniest group of sports broadcasters and make excellent colleagues. They all inked long-term contracts with the business. And not for small change, either.

Charles Barkley 10 year contract may not happen

For an extended period, Charles Barkley has insisted that he has no desire to continue working on “Inside the NBA” into old age. On February 15, 2022, the former NBA MVP hinted that he would be leaving the TNT show.

Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley (Credits: Marca)

During a conference call with reporters, they questioned Barkley regarding his length of stay at TNT. As reported by Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, Barkley intends to retire when his contract expires.

Barkley stated that his contract expires at the end of the 2023–24 season, as reported by Townsend. The 60-year-old Charles Barkley declared he was ready to finish. Charles Barkley said, 

It's been a great, great thing. I love Ernie, Kenny, Shaq, and everybody we work with. But I just don't feel the need to work until the day I die. I'll be 61 years old if I finish out my contract.

Barkley, who began working for TNT in 2000, fell short of earlier deadlines for retirement. Before agreeing to his contract in 2015, he stated he was moving towards retirement.

Since then, he has hinted he might decide to retire before the term is up. Nine years later, he is still present on the TNT set. He still appears to be genuinely happy with his job and the money that goes along with it.

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