Charles Barkley Doesn’t Mince Words About Why He Turned Down An Offer From NBC, Despite Being Offered ‘More Money’

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Charles Barkley is a longtime co-host of *Inside the NBA*, and recently considered other job opportunities when the show’s broadcasting rights shifted. While both ESPN and TNT wanted to keep him, he ultimately decided to work with both networks. Barkley also revealed he received a substantial offer from NBC, but chose to decline it, openly sharing his reasons for doing so.

Charles Barkley has previously hinted he was exploring options with different media companies as he considered his future. After initially retiring in 2024, Barkley confirmed he had meetings with NBC specifically. However, it wasn’t until an interview on *The Bill Simmons Podcast* that he explained why he turned down their offer. He said the deal contained terms he considered unacceptable and referred to as “bullshit.”

I had meetings with both Amazon and NBC, and NBC actually made me a pretty good offer – more money, to be exact. I was seriously considering it, but then I saw the contract and it was just… a lot. It wasn’t about the money, it was everything *else* they wanted. They were asking for appearances at events like the Kentucky Derby and the US Open, plus a bunch of TV spots – five on Today, five with Jimmy Fallon, and even commitments to the Olympics in 2028 and 2030! It felt like they wanted way more than just my time.

I was really surprised to hear Bill Simmons say he enjoyed all the drama, especially with Charles Barkley being a big part of it. But then Charles himself came out and said he wasn’t a fan of any of it! He even told Bill he’s at a point in his life where he just doesn’t want to work as much anymore, and honestly, I can’t blame him.

The retired NBA star said he was willing to work a few days a week because he appreciates Mark Lazarus, who previously gave him a job at Turner. But ultimately, a concerning issue combined with the details of the contract prevented him from accepting the offer.

When I finally received the contract, they told me I’d only be working three days a week after football season ended. But then they added the Kentucky Derby, the US Open, and the Olympics for 2028 and 2030, and I immediately said no way!

More on Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley remains worried about the relocation of ‘Inside the NBA’ to ESPN, but he does see one positive aspect to the change.

NBC reportedly approached both Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson with an offer to move their show and team, but they ultimately chose to stay with TNT. This happened before ESPN finalized its own deal. Throughout 2024, Barkley made several comments about the future of *Inside the NBA*, but he repeatedly emphasized his priority: making sure his colleagues kept their jobs. This concern for their employment was a major factor in his decision to postpone his retirement.

Despite the show *Inside* moving forward, Charles Barkley remains worried about its future on ESPN, especially how the format will change. An initial schedule release caused concern among fans because it showed a shorter show with fewer episodes. However, Burke Magnus, ESPN’s head of content, recently assured The Athletic that the show will remain largely the same. It remains to be seen if Barkley will be satisfied, or if he’ll continue to talk about the job offers he previously declined.

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2025-09-23 22:12