The award-winning studio program Inside the NBA will be airing on ESPN and ABC beginning next season under a sublicensing deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and The Walt Disney Company. The TNT Sports show will continue in its 36th season and currently includes the cast of Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. Barkley has been candid throughout the process as Warner Bros. Discovery lost NBA rights and took meetings with other companies. Last month, he divulged that he was going to stay with TNT Sports, a resolution that took place following a retirement announcement and subsequent long-term commitment to the company.
On the Thursday night edition of Inside the NBA, Barkley delivered a scathing rant surrounding the amount of coverage the Los Angeles Lakers receive from “the other network,” ostensibly referring to ESPN. The remarks started with Barkley explaining that he saw a “fool idiot” on television who was talking about how the Lakers saved the NBA, revealing thereafter that he was referring to ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins. From there, he proceeded to explain how the Lakers were having a strong two weeks, which has included stellar play from stars LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
“He said, ‘The Lakers saved the NBA season,’” Barkley explained. “That’s because them fools on the other network, which we’re going to be working for next year, that’s all they talk about. Let me tell y’all something, and first of all, I want all the smoke, alright? I don’t whistle when I walk by the graveyard or anything like that.”
Barkley outlined how the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder have been the stories of the NBA season, both of whom are atop their respective conferences. Conversely though, he contended that the others just want to discuss the Lakers and Golden State Warriors, teams that have enjoyed recent success. Even though Barkley explained that he did not have an issue if he was wrong, he added that the others were talking about who was in second place.
“Hey, the Lakers are doing great,” Barkley said. “I don’t mind being wrong. The Warriors are doing great, but that’s because you fools on the other network, which we’re going to become fools next year because we’re going to be working on that network, but Oklahoma City and the Cavs [have] been balling for six months. Y’all talking about teams that had two great weeks.”
As Barkley continued his diatribe, he began to discuss the G.O.A.T. debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. In fact, he opined that the only people who engage in the discussion are those people on television who do not possess talent to talk about other topics. Aside from Perkins, Barkley did not mention any specific names of people to whom he was referring.
“The Oklahoma City [Thunder] and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the two best stories in the NBA this year,” Barkley said. “Congratulations to the Lakers and the Warriors – they’ve had two good weeks. The Cavs and OKC have had six great months.”
During the American Express Halftime Report on TNT, a viewer tweeted that Barkley was enjoying seeing the Lakers lose to the New York Knicks. Barkley replied by saying that he was not a hater, but rather worried about the people on the other network who would be sad on Friday. Perkins quickly took to social media and responded to Barkley’s assertions made earlier in the program.
“Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around,” Perkins said on X. “When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homebody and we bar none and fade all. #TexasBoy.”
Stephen A. Smith, who reportedly agreed to a five-year contract worth at least $100 million to remain on ESPN and First Take, also shared his thoughts on the situation via social media. Smith was also seen sitting courtside at the Knicks-Lakers game from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., along with other celebrities such as Bob Costas, David Zaslav and Larry David.
“Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the “y’all.” Attach a name to it,” Smith said on X. “I know I’ve been talking about @cavs being the No.1 threat to the @Celtics . Once you come over here, there’s gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool. P.S. You know I love ya, though. See y’all soon. Yo @TheJetOnTNT ….workbook those free throws😀. Love y’all.”
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