Once again, Charles Barkley has shown he’s a true team player. On Wednesday, August 14, the NBA legend shared on the Dan Le Batard Show podcast that he turned down a minimum of $100 million to stay with Turner Sports, prioritizing his colleagues’ jobs. This decision came in the wake of TNT being left out of the NBA’s new 11-year media rights deal.
“For me, the top priority was ensuring that my people at Turner got to keep their jobs for at least another year,” the 61-year-old Barkley told host Dan Le Batard. “That’s all that mattered to me.”
Barkley’s potential departure would have been contractually justified under the new agreement, but he expressed his desire to remain with TNT. Despite receiving lucrative offers from other networks, Barkley admitted that it was “100% a great feeling” to be in demand.
“I want to thank all the networks that reached out to me,” said the two-time NBA Hall of Famer. “It was really humbling and cool, to be honest. Even though they were offering crazy amounts of money, I just felt good knowing my people at TNT are safe. That means more to me than anything.”
Barkley, known for his quick wit, couldn’t resist adding, “They pay me to talk about nothing at TNT, but I probably would’ve had to actually work if I went to one of those other networks.”
In 2022, Barkley signed a 10-year deal with TNT Sports, where he has become a staple as a commentator for the award-winning NBA on TNT and Inside the NBA, alongside co-hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal.
However, in late July, TNT Sports lost the NBA’s media rights after the league declined Warner Bros. Discovery’s $1.8 billion per year offer, which matched Amazon’s. This means the upcoming 2024-25 season will be TNT’s last broadcasting NBA games.
The NBA’s new 11-year deal with ESPN’s parent company, The Walt Disney Company, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, set to begin in the 2025-26 season, is expected to generate a staggering $76 billion.
“We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning NBA coverage,” the league said in a statement, as reported by USA Today. “We look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.” In response, TNT announced plans to take “legal action,” according to Sports Illustrated.
Barkley also voiced his thoughts on the deal in a July 26 Instagram statement, expressing his disappointment. “It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks,” he wrote. “I want to thank everyone who has been part of Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best, most talented people, 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’ve got next season.”
How much did Charles Barkley make?
Based on multiple sources, Charles Barkley earned an estimated $37.5 million to $43.5 million over the course of his NBA playing career. Adjusted for today’s economy, that amount would be significantly higher.
How many years did Charles Barkley play in the NBA?
During his 16-year NBA career, Charles Barkley earned 11 All-NBA honors across 11 consecutive seasons. He was named to the All-NBA First Team five times (1988-1991, 1993), the All-NBA Second Team five times (1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995), and the All-NBA Third Team once (1996).
