Charles Barkley says NBA chose money over fans after Turner loses NBA rights

Charles Barkley isn't too happy about Turner Sports losing the television rights to broadcast the NBA.

The league announced this week that it was rejecting Warner Bros. Discovery's $1.8 billion per year matching bid and would enter into a deal with Amazon Prime Video beginning with the 2025-26 season, thus ending a 40-plus-year broadcast relationship. Warner Bros. is the parent company of TNT Sports.

It also effectively ends "Inside the NBA," which many consider the best studio show in sports.

The Hall of Famer and TNT analyst released a statement on Turner losing the rights, saying that the league cowered to large tech companies like Amazon because they knew they would shell out billions to broadcast games.

"Clearly, the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning," Barkley wrote on social media. "I'm not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT matched the money. The league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn't want to piss them off.

"It's a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks," he added.

Barkley, host Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal have made "Inside the NBA" appointment television, and the show has won 19 Sports Emmys, including three in 2024 for Outstanding Studio Show − Limited Run, Outstanding Studio Analyst for Barkley, and Johnson winning the Outstanding Studio Host award.

"I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented, and they deserve better. I also want to thank the NBA and its fans − the best fans in sports. We're going to give you everything we have next season," Barkley said.

Earlier Friday, Barkley appeared on the Dan Patrick Show and said he still plans to retire and under no circumstances will he take a pay cut. He added that Warner Bros. Discovery is partly to blame for the loss of broadcasting rights at Turner Sports.

"Wait, if ya’ll lose the NBA, why should I get screwed? They said let’s come to some kind of agreement," Barkley said. "The agreement is we get to make you an offer. I said, that’s fine, I’m going to turn it down, because I’m not taking no pay cut because y’all screwed up. But I don’t see them guaranteeing it, to be honest, because they don’t really have anything. So I’m going to be a free agent next summer and I’m going to have to sit back and – right now my intention is to retire.

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