Charles Barkley Firm on His Pick Between NBA and TNT as He Reveals Next Steps for Show with Shaq and Ernie Johnson

When stepping into the wild world of NBA punditry, keeping up with the larger-than-life personas of Charles Barkley and Shaquille O Neal is no easy feat. But, Ernie Johnson effortlessly captions this ship on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” show. The explosive chemistry of the trio seasoned with Kenny Smith’s flair has turned Turner Sports’ show into a must-watch spectacle.

But as the rumors are swirling about the show’s future, fans are left wondering about the fate of the show. With each episode being a rollercoaster of laughs and insights, the countdown to farewell becomes a thrilling ride for viewers. But, what’s happening? As NBA’s TV Rights are contractually over next season, TNT’s “Inside the NBA” show may also come to an end.

To offer his unique insights about TNT’s contract, Charles Barkley sat with the team of the Dan Patrick Show. A glimpse of the interview was then uploaded to the official Twitter account of the Dan Patrick Show with the caption, “Charles Barkley told us that if TNT loses #NBA TV rights.”

In the same interview, Barkley revealed that if TNT loses NBA TV Rights, he’ll switch careers as a free agent. Interestingly, taking up a career as a free agent would be highly beneficial for Barkley’s bank account as he would earn more. However, this is not the only topic Barkley spoke about in the interview regarding the careers of the “Inside the NBA” show.

Navigating the uncertain terrain of NBA TV Rights

Moving on, Barkley hinted at host Ernie Johnson’s intentions if Discovery loses NBA rights. “He’s unsure about ‘Inside the NBA’ moving to another network because the show wouldn’t be the same without Ernie Johnson. Ernie has said he isn’t leaving Turner,” Charles Barkley revealed in the same interview.

As per Sports Business Journal, Ernie Johnson Jr. will continue at TNT irrespective of the fact that Discovery fails to retain the rights next season. But the question remains: What would he do with TNT in that case? Johnson “would stay with Turner” and occupy the lead studio role for March Madness, covering Major League Baseball broadcasts.

Notably, even in this case, he would most probably get $2.5 billion per year for covering the NBA broadcast package. However, everything depends on TNT’s bidding competition next season. Will Turner be able to retain NBA TV Rights, or will the quartet separate to find new opportunities?