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As a 6-foot-6 Basketball Hall of Fame post player, Charles Barkley probably knows a thing or two about leverage. Barkley utilized leverage, albeit in a different manner, to secure a huge new contract with TNT.
The basketball and broadcasting star made waves over the summer when he flirted with leaving Inside the NBA on TNT to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. Barkley even met with LIV representative Greg Norman to discuss a possible deal.
“I met with Greg [Norman]. He asked me was I interested. I said, of course, I’m here,” Barkley told Dan Patrick at that time. “I wouldn’t have dinner with you if I wasn’t interested and I’m waiting for them to make me a offer, I guess.”
But ultimately, Barkley opted to stay with TNT in an expanded role. Basketball fans were absolutely ecstatic over the move. Now, we’ve learned the deals of Barkley’s new deal, and he won’t have to worry about any money anytime soon.
Charles Barkley Signs New Deal With TNT That Could Be Worth Nearly $200 Million
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported on Monday afternoon that TNT has agreed to a new deal with Barkley that stretches for 10 years and could approach $200 million.
NEWS: Charles Barkley has a new 10-year deal with TNT that is well north of $100M and likely approaches $200M, The Post has learned.https://t.co/Kq3hESbyMU
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) October 17, 2022
“Barkley currently has three years left on a contract that pays him $10 million per season. His current contract coincides with TNT’s agreement with the NBA deal expiring after the 2024-25 season. If Turner were not to keep the NBA, Barkley could potentially own rights to go work for another network or a digital platform, if Amazon or Apple or others are involved.
The exact amount Barkley will make is not yet known if he fulfills the entire contract, but it will be well in excess of $100 million and could approach $200 million. Barkley could decide to retire from TV before the deal ends.”
Front Office Sports writer Michael McCarthy said that the deal is just one of four long-term extensions handed out by TNT to the entire Inside the NBA cast.
Warners Bros Discovery says it has signed long-term contract extensions with the four stars of TNT's Inside the NBA pregame show: Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith.
The new deals run for 10 years, said sources. pic.twitter.com/EcKmzDZ2zm
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) October 17, 2022
NBA fans everywhere loved the news.
Let the grillmasters reign for 10 more years https://t.co/16NnwoJ7NT
— Andrew Kuo (@earlboykins) October 17, 2022
Sound investment. Greatest sports studio in the history of television. #SportsBiz https://t.co/Jl7JaRdkI7
— Albert Bernestine (@combatpromo) October 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/AndrewKunkle/status/1582060086167760897?s=20&t=i1vmDvae-5e1bCScX43i2A
The 2022 NBA season gets underway on Tuesday when the Boston Celtics play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. The defending champion Golden State Warriors then host the Los Angeles Lakers later that night. Both games will be broadcast nationally on TNT.