Charles Barkley confessed his job talking about sports feels like a “scam” as the NBA legend even begins to win trophies for his work just two years after penning a $240m dollar extension with TNT Sports.
The ex-Phoenix Suns‘ star, who shot for 23,757 career points, is celebrated as one of the best players of all-time and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 meaning fans are eager for his keen insights on what the professionals are doing.
Yet the 1993 MVP and 15-time All-Star feels as though he has the easiest job in the world by talking about sports, and added he even feels like he’s stealing a living after collecting five Sports Emmy Awards.
“What’s really crazy, number one, they pay us to talk about sports,” Barkley said on the Throwbacks podcast. “Now they’re giving us trophies! The most scam job in history.
“We should go to the bank with like a mask on. We’re gonna watch sports anyway, but to get paid to do it, it is like highway robbery. Now they’re giving us trophies!”
Will Charles Barkley be on TV for the 2024/25 NBA season?
Barkley isn’t trying to talk down to the fans. He loves them and he loves the appreciation for the extra tactical knowledge he brings to the broadcasts with TNT Sports, alongside Shaquille O’Neal on Inside the NBA.
But even he is beginning to feel the wear and tear of regular nights in front of the studio cameras after initially calling time on his career in June 2024 ahead of the upcoming NBA season, although he quickly reversed in in August.
That means fans will see him live on air from Tuesday, October 22 as fans tune in to see if the Boston Celtics can successfully defend their title as champions.
“I love my TNT Sports family. My number one priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible,” Barkley said in a statement. “We have the most amazing people, and they are the best at what they do.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future. This is the only place for me.”
