NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was a guest of the Dan Patrick Show today and in addition to talking NBA playoffs, the two talked about the media rights negotiations going on with the NBA. Reports indicate NBC has worked hard and offered a lot of money, $2.5 billion annually, to steal the rights away from TNT.
“What is the future of NBA on TNT, your show?” Patrick asked Barkley.
“I have zero idea,” he said. “It’s interesting that you ask me that question because I think today is the deadline. I don’t know. It’s nerve wracking for everybody, it’s very stressful, but I don’t think anybody knows. Listen, I love TNT. I hope we keep it. I talked to Ernie last night. I think they are going to make a decision by the end of the day. I don’t think any of us know what that decision is going to be. It’s very stressful at work right now.”
Patrick asked, “If the NBA goes away, are you a free agent?” Barkley replied, “Yes.”
“Is Shaq?” Patrick followed up. “I don’t know their contract situations, but I made sure [on mine],” Barkley said. “We had a disagreement when we were redoing my deal a couple years ago about what happens if we lose the NBA…I wanted to put myself in the best possible scenario.
“I said, ‘Guys, I am not signing a new contract unless I can be a free agent in two years.’ Now, I want to make it clear, I love TNT. I love everybody at TNT, they have been great for me. But I don’t want to be in limbo if we lose the NBA, that wouldn’t be fair to me…I wanted to make it perfectly clear, ‘If y’all lose the NBA I want to be a free agent.’ I hope we sign the NBA; I love TNT, but its nerve wracking right now.”
Patrick brought up the reports that Ernie Johnson has said he would stay at TNT even if they lose the NBA. Barkley said he realizes there are other things Johnson does at TNT, but he, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal are there for NBA basketball.
Could the show continue somewhere else with a different host?
“I don’t know how it works without Ernie,” Barkley said. “And I can’t speak for NBC. I don’t know if they’d want all three of us. Our show won’t be the same without Ernie. Ernie is the most important person on our show.”
Barkley brought up all the various mergers they have been through and the personnel they have lost.
“…We have merged three times in the last five years, and we have fired hundreds of people. If we lose the NBA, I can’t imagine how bad it’s going to be at Turner, but I really hope we keep the NBA.”
