Charles Barkley changes tune regarding move to ESPN

Charles Barkley had a different tune about ESPN when he signed off TNT for the final time, following the conclusion of the Eastern Conference Finals. He was previously critical of ESPN’s practices and the fact that Inside The NBA would be moved over to the four-letter network in a licensing agreement.

Barkley was also critical of TNT, whom he thanked as he signed off, due to lack of negotiation in the new NBA media rights deal. But with his broadcast season done, Barkley looked forward to the future.

He doesn’t want the show to change and it seems like it’ll operate as normal despite changing networks. So, Barkley did the right thing and took the positive approach.

“To ESPN, it’s going to be an honor and a privilege to work for you guys,” Barkley said on TNT Sports’ final sendoff. “You guys are the number one sports network in history, and I’m excited for it. You guys got some tremendous talents over there. I’m looking forward to working with those guys. But like I said, man, I just want to say thank you to the NBA, every coach I’ve had, every player I play with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had, I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. And even though we’ll never say TNT sports again. I want to thank TNT, for giving me a magnificent life.”

How big was the new media deal for the NBA? It was reportedly an 11-year, $76 billion agreement that’ll keep games on ESPN/ABC, in addition to airing them on NBC and Amazon Prime. TNT did not match.

So you could understand Barkley’s hesitance and criticism at first. But, he’ll swallow his pride, a bit, and usher in a new era for the show.

“I don’t want us to change,” Barkley said on Beadle and Decker in late-May. “I mean, one reason the show’s been successful, honestly, I’ll tell you something. I just signed the contract this week. I told myself I’m not going to make a rash decision to just go over to ESPN … I don’t want our show to change. And I don’t want to start doing stupid stuff for TNT, because they’re gonna try to do some on TNT …

“I’m not exactly sure, because they don’t know what the hell is going on. I don’t know how many games we’re gonna do on ESPN, ABC, but they want to try to do something on Turner. And I was like, we’re not just gonna do something, just to do it, that’s just stupid.”