Ahead of tomorrow’s tipoff of the 2022-23 NBA season, Warner Bros Discovery announced contract renewals for the four hosts of TNT’s mainstay studio show ‘Inside The NBA’
, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson will continue to host the program “for many years to come,” according to the official announcement. Barkley had been wooed by the LIV golf tour, a nascent venture backed by Saudi Arabia that has lavished extraordinary amounts of cash on players and broadcasters.
Terms were not disclosed. The New York Post reported that Barkley’s deal is for 10-years and “well over” $100 million. Kathleen Finch, Warner Bros. Discovery US Networks Group chair and chief content officer, indicated in an interview last week with Deadline sister publicationthat Barkley would be staying in the fold. She suggested his new role would include much more than the NBA. “I’m excited to find other ways to put him on television talking about something other than basketball,” she said.
has been on the air for 33 years and has managed to be the most consistently entertaining and zeitgeist-y of any sports studio show, in large part because of the freewheeling nature of the hosts, who mix game analysis with off-the-cuff banter and sometimes sober commentary on current events.
team is recognition of their significance to that relationship,” WBD Sports chief Luis Silberwasser said. “ epitomizes the creativity and innovative spirit we’ve established throughout our successful, long-standing partnership with the league.” Barkley described the show’s team as “a big family,” saying that Johnson, Smith and O’Neal “are brothers to me.” As one of the most popular athletes-turned-pundits, Barkley has plenty of options. “I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for them and all the amazing people who work on our show,” he said. “I’m not gonna lie, though, this is a life-altering deal…and I’m blessed to be able to do live television for a living.
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