Charles Barkley spilled the beans on a secret that might get him called into the principal’s office at Turner Sports.
That secret? Turner had actually signed former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to a deal to join TNT’s Inside the NBA studio crew.
Barkley admitted he might get in trouble for speaking about it while appearing on The Draymond Green Show this week, but he brought up the Bryant signing in the context of being in the final years of his TV career.
“You built yourself an amazing life,” Barkley said. “Why not enjoy the back nine?”
Barkley explained that part of being involved with the NBA on TNT is an obligation to do a certain number of interviews and media appearances each week to promote the Thursday night telecasts. He said that was something Kobe overlooked prior to signing his name on a contract with Turner Sports.
“During the regular season, you have to pump it up all week,” Barkley said of the media appearances. “That’s part of the gig, but Kobe didn’t want to do all that stuff. And it never worked out.”
Barkley explained that during the regular season the actual in-studio schedule is pretty light, but that’s the reason why he, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson have to constantly do interviews. He said once the playoffs start, things get busier. But ultimately during the season, they’re only on TV once a week.
Still, when Bryant, who tragically passed in 2020, heard about the additional commitments beyond just being on TV, he didn’t want to be a part of that.
“He was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to do all this stuff,’” Barkley said. “He never came to work for us.”
Barkley has said publicly he will likely retire from TV in the next year or two. He told Green he wants to enjoy being a grandfather and eventually become a great-grandfather, as well as traveling the world.