ESPN/TNT
Despite the fact that the Inside the NBA crew has yet to officially join ESPN, the dynamic among the network’s basketball personalities has already devolved into a WWE-like situation, which shots being taken by each side. This week, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins are beefing with Charles Barkley.
On Thursday, March 6, Charles Barkley went on a rant on Inside the NBA about how ESPN covers the LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers’ and Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors, while also ripping the constant ESPN-fueled debates about LeBron versus Michael Jordan.
Barkley and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew will be moving to ESPN next year after TNT lost its rights to broadcast the NBA, which signed new TV deals with ESPN/Disney, NBC, and Amazon.
“The Lakers are doing great. Got a long way to go. But the reason the season’s been going great is the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Barkley said on Thursday night. “The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 12 straight games. Oklahoma City got the MVP and they are on fire. Y’all are talking about who’s in second place. That’s the reason I get pissed.”
“I’ve said it for years, the only people talking about LeBron and Michael is people on television who got no talent to talk about anything else. I been saying that for years. I ain’t hanging onto the ‘90s,” he added.
Charles Barkley GOES OFF about Lakers/Warriors coverage (and LeBron James/Michael Jordan debates) from “the fools on the other network (ESPN), which we’re going to be working for next year.” 🏀📺🎙️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥☠️ pic.twitter.com/0RyvL0H4ix
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2025
Former NBA center Kendrick Perkins, who works for ESPN as an NBA analyst, got wind of Barkley’s comments and responded on social media by calling him a “senior citizen.”
“Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around. 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 a– like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homeboy and we bar none and fade all,” Perkins tweeted on Thursday night.
Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around. 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…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 7, 2025
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith, who just signed a new $100 million contract with the network this week, also responded to Barkley’s disparagement of ESPN’s basketball coverage.
“Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the ‘y’all.’ Attach a name to it. I know I’ve been talking about
the 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,” SAS responded.
Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the “y’all.” Attach a name to it. 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… https://t.co/8PbBWVRlim
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 7, 2025
As soon as Inside the NBA’s move to ESPN was reported on, NBA fans immediately began worrying about how Smith’s ego would clash with the long-running program and that seems to be exactly what’s unfolding across the network as a whole.