Charles Barkley Reveals $210M(!) Contract, Details NBA Future Uncertainty In Wild 'Dan Patrick Show' Interview

Hopes of TNT managing to hang on to a piece of the NBA's latest TV deal appear to be all but dead. That means the network's beloved Inside The NBA is on its last legs and one of the show's hosts, NBA great Charles Barkley, appeared on The Dan Patrick Show to talk about his plans moving forward.

The Round Mound of Rebound released a statement on the matter.

"Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning," Barkley wrote. "I'm not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn't want to piss them off.

"It's a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks."

He finished up by thanking the fans and pledging that all parties involved would give it their all for what looks to be the show's final season.

Patrick asked a question a lot of people had (I know I did) which was why, given the popularity of Inside The NBA, why wouldn't one of the players in on the new deal — NBC, ESPN, and Amazon — bring the show aboard?

"Well, first of all, you would have to ask Ernie (Johnson) that," Barkley said. "Because Ernie would probably never leave Turner. But, Dan, everything's on the table."

Barkley went on to say that he had spoken to all three of the networks that will carry the NBA when the 11-year deal gets going, and that includes ESPN, a possibility OutKick's Bobby Burack reported a few months back.

"I have spoken — for the last three months — I have spoken to all the networks."

Barkley's talks with other networks come despite being just a few years into a 10-year deal that he revealed was for $210 million.

"Next year will be year 3. Turner has to come to me today or next week and say, 'Hey we screwed up. Will you take a pay cut?'" he said. "So they'll either have to guarantee the full ten years, ($210 million), or they're going to have to ask me to take a pay cut, which, under no circumstances,  am I taking a pay cut. Zero chance of me taking a pay cut."

Barkley said he will "politely decline" taking a pay cut because of the great relationship he has had with TNT. That will give them two options: guarantee the entire contract, or Barkley will hit the open market.

If the latter happens he will get paid once again. No doubt about it.