The NBA is negotiating its next media rights deal with Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon and NBC, which is set to begin after the 2024-25 season. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this month that negotiations are continuing, but multiple reports have suggested that TNT's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, could lose NBA rights for the first time since 1988.
“There's been a lot of noise around our network these last few months,” Barkley said. “I want to say, I've spoken to all the other networks and I'm not going anywhere but TNT. But I've made my own decision, and no matter what happens, next year will be my last year on television. I want to thank the NBA family. You've all been so good to me. My heart is full of joy and gratitude. But I'm going to be passing the baton at the end of next year. I hope the NBA stays on TNT. But I personally wanted you guys to hear me.”
Barkley, who had hinted at the possibility of retiring for years, announced his retirement on NBA TV's postgame show following the Dallas Mavericks' 122-84 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
“I will not be doing any more interviews,” he said. “Don't call me. I'm not going to talk about this anymore. I just wanted to let my family at TNT and NBA TV know that I'm not going to another network. I'm passing the baton to Jamal Crawford, Vince Carter and Steve.” [Smith]. “
Barkley signed a contract extension with TNT in 2022 and will reportedly be given the opportunity to leave if the network is unable to renew its media rights deal with the NBA. As media rights negotiations have dragged on for months, Barkley has repeatedly criticized TNT management and voiced support for the network's rank-and-file employees, who are left in limbo.
“I just want to say this because you guys are my family,” Barkley said. “I love TNT, I love everyone who works here and I love NBA Television. You guys have been great to me for the last 24 years. I want to thank the whole NBA family. I love you all.”
Johnson, 67, who joined Turner Sports in 1989, said last month that he had no plans to leave the company even if TNT lost its NBA rights.
Silver said on June 6 that media rights negotiations are “incredibly complicated” and that league staff are “literally working around the clock” to finalize a new deal.
“It's complicated for a number of reasons,” Silver said. “One is the emergence of new platforms, especially streaming, and the interest of streaming companies, but also traditional media companies distributing our games on streaming platforms. It's complicated because we have multiple partners wanting similar assets. A lot of the time it's just about finding the right way to balance as our games move across different partners. And finally, we tend to have long-term deals, which we think is good for the stability of the league, but to some extent it means you're trying to predict the future, which of course is impossible.”
The commissioner added that “Inside the NBA” plays a “special” role in the league's community and that he has “a close relationship with everyone who appears on the show.”
“On the one hand, from the league's standpoint, it's great that you're liked and wanted and have multiple suitors,” Silver said. “But at the same time, the fear is that it's a zero-sum game, at the end of the day there are only so many TV slots and only so many Finals, playoff and regular-season games that can be streamed.”
“I speak directly to those at Turner Sports who I believe are most affected right now and apologize for the length of this process. I know you are committed to your jobs. I know people who work in this industry. This industry is a big part of their identity and their families' identity and no one likes this uncertainty. I believe it is the responsibility of the league office to finalize these negotiations and bring them to a conclusion as quickly as possible.”
