Charles Barkley contract details: NBA on TNT analyst reveals opt-out clause that could make him a free agent

It’s not often a pregame, halftime or postgame show is better than the actual game, but it’s sometimes true when Charles Barkley is on the desk.

Barkley has established himself as one of the premier basketball personalities across NBA and college hoops, but his run at TNT may be ending soon.

The former MVP is an analyst on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” that features Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith. The popular show could be ending in two years, however, as TNT may lose its NBA license.

The NBA’s TV deal ends after the 2024-25 season, so ESPN/ABC and TNT need to renegotiate deals if they plan on retaining their license. Amazon Prime has reportedly secured a framework that would have them as one of the NBA’s broadcasters starting in the 2025-26 season.

ESPN/ABC and NBC are both in discussion to be a part of the league’s next broadcasting contract alongside Amazon. NBC hasn’t broadcasted NBA games since 2002.

MORE: Complete list of 2024 NBA award winners

Charles Barkley contract detailsBarkley was ready for this possibility two years ago.

The “Inside the NBA” analyst signed a 10-year deal with TNT in 2022 that pays him “upward of $100 million,” but he added an opt-out clause in the event the network loses its NBA license.

“I wanted to make sure that if we lost the NBA in 2 years, I could be a free agent,” – Charles Barkley on if TNT loses the NBA TV rights.

Charles also talks about the future of ‘Inside the NBA’ pic.twitter.com/hyDIVcUapy

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 1, 2024Barkley gave himself the opportunity to enter broadcasting free agency so he can continue analyzing the NBA for another network. If TNT does retain its license, Barkley will stay.

“I said, ‘If you guys lose the NBA, I want to make sure that I can get out of here.’ So I am actually in a really great position,” Barkley said in an interview on 850 ESPN Cleveland.

“Listen, I love TNT, they’ve been great to me … I wanted to make sure that if we lost the NBA in two years, I could be a free agent.”

Author(s)

Brendan O’Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News.