Charles Barkley Frustrated by Limited Early Appearances on ESPN’s ‘Inside the NBA’
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Hall of Famer Charles Barkley says the abbreviated rollout of “Inside the NBA” on ESPN and ABC has already tested his patience.
During an interview on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Barkley revealed he has taken his complaint directly to ESPN executives. According to the analyst, the show has aired on ESPN only four times in the first three months of the season, including just one December broadcast on Christmas Day.
“I want to be around the game more often,” Barkley told the program, adding that he does not want the telecast scattered across multiple networks or spread too thin. In typical Barkley fashion, he joked that if ESPN ever fires him for calling colleagues “idiots” or “jackasses,” the network would still owe him the balance of his seven-year contract.
Despite the early frustration, additional shows are on the calendar. “Inside the NBA” is set to return in late January, with a long-term plan that places the crew around signature events such as the NBA Finals, conference finals and other playoff coverage.
Production remains under TNT Sports in Atlanta, preserving the program’s familiar feel even as it airs on ESPN-owned platforms.
Source: Hoops Wire
