‘Tis the season to be grumpy. Holiday vibes took over Studo J but Charles “Adults Don’t Need Christmas Presents” Barkley is yet to absorb the Christmas spirit. The Inside Guys did a little something special for fans this Christmas with ugly sweaters and awkward poses. Sir Charles was the typical unwilling participant. But like the Grinch becoming a better Santa than Santa, Chuckster pulled it off.

The NBA on TNT page shared their Christmas greetings with an ‘awkward Christmas photoshoot’ of the Inside Guys. They of course had the process of making it too. It was done well in advance it seems with Ernie Johnson. (Ernie was absent this Thursday after the sudden passing of his sister and Adam Lefkoe subbed him in.)

Charles Barkley walked in, saw the wrinkled brown background, fake presents and the giant Shaq-a-Claus gift bag, and had the most tired dad reaction. “Oh, this can’t be good.” We disagree. The Inside Guys got into their ugly sweaters, Chuck picked that recognizable one that makes him look like a big present with a bow (because Barkley is rightfully a gift) and told the TNT staff, “y’all aren’t paying me enough to look like an idiot!” Uh, TNT gave him 210 million reasons to do so.

Chuck stayed with TNT for a $210 million contract he signed in 2022. He confirmed that other networks were offering him at least $100 million more to join their NBA programming. He chose to stay with TNT (though he recently confirmed he could consider other possibilities) beyond 2025.

Funnily enough, business savvy Shaquille O’Neal’s response to Chuck’s comment was, “If we come up with a sweater line, the public would buy it.” Where’s the lie?

Regardless, Chuck does get paid to be a lovable idiot on TNT. That’s why after all that humming and hawing, he hit all the awkward family photo poses – from the hand on the hip, the big Disney smiles, and even the buddy cop pose with Shaq till he lost his balance – to wish fans Happy Holidays.

Charles Barkley, Grinch-In-Chief

Between doing this awkward family photoshoot and the holiday post, Charles Barkley was on Dan Patrick’s show bursting our bubble for 2025. If we thought it will be all fun and games when Inside the NBA is licensed to ESPN, Chuck pulled the brakes on it.

“I’m listening to NBC, Amazon. I want to know everything that’s on the table for me before I sign in,” he said. He’s also said many times before he won’t work like a “dog” for ESPN no matter how much money is offered.

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Despite keeping TNT (and ESPN) on the hook, Chuckster arrived to Studio J with the bare minimum Christmas spirit. He was praising Shaquille O’Neal for bringing holiday cheer to little kids through Shaq-a-Claus. But he reiterated his old belief, “I don’t believe in giving adults stuff… Christmas is for kids and kids only. Adults should not be getting toys.” 

He’s so passionate about it, he’s close to running for presidency with Michelle Obama. Unless, of course, TNT and ESPN pay him a lot more.