NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley recently revealed that he turned down a staggering $100 million offer to stay with Turner Sports. This decision came in the wake of Warner Bros. Discovery losing the NBA broadcasting rights to NBC and Amazon, which meant that the beloved “Inside the NBA” show would end after the upcoming season.
Barkley, a key figure on the award-winning “NBA on TNT” and “Inside the NBA” alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, chose to remain with Turner Sports despite lucrative offers from other networks. His primary motivation was to ensure that his colleagues at Turner could keep their jobs for at least another year.
In an interview with Dan Le Batard, Barkley explained his decision:
“The number-one thing for me is that my people at Turner get to keep their jobs another year. As long as I got my people safe at TNT, man, I feel really good”.
Charles Barkley says he left $100 million on the table to return to Turner Sports so his people there could keep their jobs for another year
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 13, 2024
This sentiment underscores Barkley’s deep sense of loyalty and commitment to his team, which has been a hallmark of his career both on and off the court.
Barkley’s decision is even more significant considering the competitive nature of sports media. With the NBA’s new 11-year media rights deal set to bring in about $76 billion, Barkley had the opportunity to join other major networks like ESPN, NBC, or Amazon Prime Video. However, he chose to prioritize the well-being of his colleagues over personal financial gain.
As the NBA’s upcoming 2024-25 season will be the last with TNT under the current agreement, Barkley’s decision ensures that his team will continue to deliver top-notch NBA coverage for another year.
