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[Saba Sports News] Charles Barkley isn’t opposed to joining ESPN, but it would have to be on his terms.
On “The Sports Illustrated Media Podcast” with Jimmy Traina, Barkley discussed the possibility of joining ESPN amid uncertainty with his current employer, TNT, and their NBA rights. Barkley said he might consider ESPN, but only if they don’t overwork him.
“They’re not gonna work me like a dog,” he said, per Awful Announcing. “ESPN Radio, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes. HELL NO! As much as I love ESPN, I just turned 61. The idea of working like a dog into my mid-60s is not happening.
“I would have to look at their packages,” Barkley added. “I don’t know who’s going to have what, so I can’t make an educated guess. Two important questions are what do you have and where will the show be?”
Barkley has been with TNT since 2000 and is part of the iconic “Inside the NBA” team with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. While he signed a 10-year extension with TNT in October 2022, he has an opt-out clause if TNT loses their NBA rights, which expire after the 2024-25 season. This could lead to a significant media bidding war for his services.
Earlier this month, Barkley suggested a way to keep “Inside the NBA” going outside of TNT. However, when it comes to ESPN, Barkley is open to joining but only with a reasonable workload.