Bill Simmons Believes New NBA Deal Is Already Done, Thinks NBC Beat Out TNT

The NBA has agreed to frameworks for new rights deals with Disney and Amazon, according to reports, letting Warner Bros. Discovery and NBC duke it out for the third and final package.

NBC was reportedly willing to pay as much as $2.5 billion a year, according to the Wall Street Journal, but WBD has matching rights to keep the NBA on TNT. The problem: WBD is in cost-cutting mode and would have to increase its current $1.2 billion a year investment in the NBA by more than double to fend off the competition.

The expectation was that the NBA would wait until after the playoffs in mid-June to finalize its right negotiations. But NBA insider Bill Simmons believes the deals are already done and he thinks NBC beat out TNT.

"One of the funniest things ever is that we’re all pretending that the TV deal wasn’t done like a week and a half ago," Simmons said on his podcast Monday. "I think it’s done. I think Warner [Bros. Discovery] already lost it. And I don’t know why we’re waiting until after the playoffs, maybe that’s how they have to do it. But it’s a wrap. NBC’s getting it. I’m just telling you."

Although not a reporter, Simmons is well-connected within the league, having previously been arguably the most famous NBA writer in the country. He's probably not putting that statement out there unless he's certain.

Plus, the "week and a half ago" reference is consistent with what Charles Barkley said: TNT had to decide whether it would match NBC's by May 3.

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Assuming Simmons is correct, and assuming the league hasn't changed things up considerably, NBC will likely take over the NBA's "B" package. The set of games includes weekly regular season matchups, the first two rounds of the playoffs and All-Star Weekend. NBC and Amazon would rotate the non-ESPN conference final every other year, according to Puck News.

NBC previously expressed interest in airing NBA regular season games on Sundays after the conclusion of the NFL season, say industry sources.

As for the very popular "Inside the NBA" studio show on TNT –  Barkley confirmed that he pre-negotiated a clause that allows him to opt-out of his contract in the event TNT loses rights to the NBA.

"I just signed a 10-year deal two years ago, but one of the things I did [is] I put an opt-out after a couple of years because I wanted to make sure I covered my ass when it comes to this situation – if I wanted to go to Amazon because we thought it was going to be Apple to be honest with you," Barkley told "The Really Big Show" on ESPN 850 Cleveland earlier this month.

Expect ESPN, Amazon and NBC to express interest in Barkley – and perhaps his co-analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. "Inside the NBA"  host Ernie Johnson is expected to remain at WBD, where he also covers MLB.

The NBA's new rights deal, which kicks in during the 2025-26 season, will likely look something like the following:

– Wednesdays on ESPN

– Saturdays on Amazon Prime

– Sundays on NBC 

– A night a week on ABC

– Select games on Peacock

– NBA Finals remain on ABC

All for a total price of around $50 billion over 10 years, double that of the NBA's current rights agreement.