Charles Barkley is contemplating offers from ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video while demanding TNT Sports fully honor his $210 million contract, amid legal tensions following the NBA's new media deals.
Charles Barkley faces a key decision about his future with TNT Sports as he considers his options amid potential offers from ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
Barkley, currently in the third year of a 10-year, $210 million contract with TNT, emphasized the urgency of Turner honoring his contract fully or negotiating a new deal, though he dismisses the possibility of accepting a pay cut.
"My deal is 10 years, $210 million," Barkley said in a phone interview with Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. "Turner has to come to me ASAP and they have to guarantee my whole thing or they can offer me a pay cut, which there is no chance of that happening and I'll be (a) free agent.
"My thing was, 'Wait, y'all f— up, I didn't f— up, why do I have to take a pay cut?"
Barkley expressed his reluctance to remain in a contentious relationship with TNT, especially if it involves legal action.
"I wouldn't want them to sue," Barkley noted. "The NBA clearly wanted to break up with us. I don't want to be in a relationship where I have to sue somebody to be in it. That makes zero sense.
"If you have to sue somebody to stay in a relationship, do you think that is a healthy relationship?"
This situation arises as the NBA recently announced new media deals worth a total of $77 billion over 11 years with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon, excluding TNT Sports. In response, TNT Sports filed a lawsuit against the NBA in an attempt to acquire Amazon's share of the deal.
Barkley also issued a critique of the NBA, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the league's decisions and choosing money and tech companies over long-time partner TNT and its fans: "It just sucks."
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