TNT’s flagship program of NBA coverage is ‘Inside the NBA,’ but in November 2024, it was announced that TNT was partnering with ESPN and the show would begin airing on ABC and ESPN starting with the 2025-2026 season.
‘Inside the NBA’ is an iconic show thanks to its panel of Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. The show is equal parts informative and funny, but there are times when one of the analysts fires off a rant about a certain topic.
Barkley did just that on Thursday night ahead of the 76ers-Celtics game.
He clearly isn’t happy about the move to ESPN and the way the channel covers the NBA. The panel was having a debate about whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan was better, and Barkley took the time to respond with heated comments about not only the station he will work for next season, but also one of the company’s top NBA analysts.
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What did Charles Barkley say about Kendrick Perkins, ESPN?
Barkley begins his response by talking about an “idiot and a fool” at ESPN who thinks the Lakers saved the NBA. He asks Shaq what the analyst’s name is, and after getting no response, Barkley answers his own question: “Kendrick Perkins.”
Charles Barkley GOES OFF about Lakers/Warriors coverage (and LeBron James/Michael Jordan debates) from “the fools on the other network (ESPN), which we’re going to be working for next year.” 🏀📺🎙️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥☠️ pic.twitter.com/0RyvL0H4ix
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2025
Perkins had recently said that the Lakers had saved this NBA season. He was likely referring to the fact that Los Angeles acquired Luka Doncic, and he and James were riding a seven-game win streak full of highlights and exciting basketball. Barkley re-iterates that he (Perkins) is a fool and talks about “the fools on the other network, which we’re going to be working for next year.”
Barkley commends the Lakers on how well they have played over the past two weeks, but he still thinks ESPN tends to fall over itself with how it speaks about James and whatever team he is on. His main gripe is with how the network only talks about the Lakers and Warriors when they talk about the NBA. He mentions that the Cavaliers and Thunder don’t get nearly enough attention, despite Cleveland winning 12 straight games.
Barkley reiterates that he and his coworkers on the panel will become fools next year, which causes O’Neal to laugh while his forehead is on the desk.
Barkley goes on to address the fact that ESPN has been discussing (yet again) the debate on whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the better player. He says, “the only people talking about LeBron and Michael [are] people on television who have no talent to talk about anything else.”
Barkley wraps up his rant summarizing that the Cavaliers and Thunder are the two best teams in the NBA this season.
The clip went viral on social media and Perkins didn’t take long to respond.
Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around. When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 7, 2025
Perkins wasn’t the only ESPN employee to respond. Despite not being named in the rant, Stephen A. Smith couldn’t help give his two cents and respond.
Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the “y’all.” Attach a name to it. I know I’ve been talking about @cavs being the No.1 threat to the @Celtics. Once you come over here, there’s gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool. P.S. You know I love ya, though. See y’all soon. Yo… https://t.co/8PbBWVRlim
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 7, 2025
Smith also discussed the topic on “First Take” on Friday morning, saying Barkley would “never be accused of knowing television.”
“Even though they are an NBA show as opposed to a show that talks about an abundance of things, the fact of the matter is, some stories get a higher profile than others because resonate with the viewing public,” Smith said. “Charles Barkley is one of the sweetest human beings you will ever find on the planet. He means no harm. That’s how he talks.”
“Barkley does television. He’d never be accused of knowing television.” – Stephen A. Smith responds to Charles Barkley’s ESPN rant pic.twitter.com/46cYDKff1S
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2025
When does ‘Inside the NBA’ move to ESPN?
TNT and ESPN came to an agreement about the NBA program. It will begin airing on ABC and ESPN with the 2025-2026 NBA season. The show first aired in 1989 and has won 21 Emmys. Johnson became the host in 1990 and was joined by Smith in 1998, Barkley in 2000, and O’Neal in 2011.
