Regardless of some pending litigation, this very a lot appears to be the ultimate season of the NBA on TNT — which suggests the tip of the road for Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal collectively within the studio.
As you recognize, the tip of the league’s video games will even imply the tip of Contained in the NBA. As you maybe additionally know, TNT is suing to stay a media accomplice. (Most, nonetheless, anticipate that lawsuit to go nowhere.)
Both method, ESPN/ABC will proceed on as a media accomplice, remaining in tempo with newcomers NBC Sports activities and Amazon Prime in 2025.
Proper now, Barkley is taken into account the very best analyst within the recreation. And if not the very best, undoubtedly essentially the most mentioned. So it could solely make sense for one of many different networks/streamers to attempt to land him after the season.
Apparently, that’s exactly what ESPN — owned by Disney — intends to do.
“My understanding, though, is also this is a little clearing the decks. Like, you know, you would have thought Woj leaving would have cleared a lot of money — which certainly did –but that they are clearing the decks for a run at Charles Barkley next year when the TNT is over,” the San Francisco Normal’s Tim Kawakami stated on Home of Strauss, through HoopsHype. “I don’t know that they’re going to get Barkley, but I think they’re just clearing it out, saying, ‘We’re going to redo what we do as we can.’”
Barkley? To ESPN? Sure, the community must ante it. However maybe it’s prepared to do precisely that. If not, one of many others ought to. Agree or disagree with Barkley’s takes, he’s must-see TV. Those that work in TV are good sufficient to know that.
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