After this season, a shift in the consumption of NBA media over the next eight years will change the landscape forever. With the addition of streaming service Amazon and the return of NBA basketball to NBC Sports, the broadcasting landscape will undergo a major transformation. Former stars like Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki have signed with Amazon, while NBC has brought in Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford to lead its coverage.
The biggest name in the battle between these two networks and ESPN was NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who had been in discussions with all three media giants.
Although Inside the NBA was picked up by ESPN, the lighter workload could have opened the door for Barkley to contribute to multiple platforms. However, on the latest episode of The Steam Room, the podcast he co-hosts with Ernie Johnson, Barkley announced that he will no longer be pursuing deals with any network outside of Turner Sports.
“I’m informing NBC that I will not accept their offer,” Barkley said. “I’m gonna cancel future meetings with Amazon… My heart is always and will always be at Turner Sports, and the only thing I’m waiting on right now is between TNT and ESPN.”
Barkley has repeatedly emphasized that he will not overwork himself as he gets older. With lucrative media deals often requiring a demanding schedule, he has made it clear that his workload will determine his next steps.
“I’m hoping this thing comes together and I can stay with TNT and ESPN, but as I’ve said, it’s all going to be dictated by my workload. I’m not going to work more as I get older, and I’m going to sit down with ESPN and TNT more because I just need to know if I’m going to continue working. That’s my only decision going forward—how much am I going to work.”
Deciding not to overextend oneself—especially when financially secure—is a wise decision, particularly for someone of Barkley’s stature. After a successful NBA career and an equally impressive post-playing career in sports media, Barkley seems to be prioritizing balance as he moves forward.
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