NBA Sells Out, Barkley Tells Truth to Power

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has sold out its fans and its legacy by accepting a $76 billion media deal with Amazon Prime and turning its back on a 40-year partnership with TNT. This 11-year-long deal, which also includes ESPN, ABC, and NBC Universal, will start in the 2025-2026 season and signal a sad shift away from the network that helped make the NBA what it is today.

It's a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. - Charles Barkley

The legendary Charles Barkley, a longtime analyst on TNT's "Inside the NBA," released a statement expressing his disappointment in the league's decision to prioritize profit over the loyal viewers. Barkley, who has won 19 Sports Emmy awards for his work on the show, may not have his contract moved over to Amazon, along with his esteemed colleagues Kenny Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, and Ernie Johnson.

The corporate greed doesn't stop there. Amazon and the NBA are moving forward despite Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns TNT, threatening legal action. TNT's 35-year partnership with the NBA should not be so easily discarded, and it is disgraceful that the league and its new partners are trying to brush aside contractual obligations.

The fans deserve better, and Charles Barkley is right to call out the league for its shameless cash grab. The NBA and its new media partners should be held accountable for their disregard for the fans and the legacy of the game.

Urls:

• Charles Barkley retirement: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/15/nba-charles-barkley-retirement-2025/#:~:text=Charles%20Barkley%20announces%20plans%20to,from%20the%20league%20in%202000.
• Rumors of Amazon wanting to move "Inside the NBA": https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/24/nba-amazon-inside-the-nba-tnt