Charles Barkley has explained why he and his Inside The NBA colleagues are frustrated with their new ESPN contract, saying the show’s limited airtime has left the team feeling underused since leaving TNT.
Charles Barkley, the Hall of Fame analyst and long-time co-host of Inside The NBA, said he expected a more active schedule after the show’s move to ESPN.
Instead, the iconic basketball broadcast has aired only a few times since the start of the season, leaving the crew disappointed with their reduced workload.
Charles Barkley details frustration with ESPN workload
Talking to Dan Le Batard, Charles Barkley said he enjoys working with ESPN but believes the network has not fully capitalized on the popularity of the Inside The NBA team.
He explained that although he agreed to a lighter schedule, the show’s reduced presence has gone far beyond what he expected.
“I love watching basketball, but I’m not going to do all these damn shows,” Barkley said. “I wish we had been on more. We’ve complained because we’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months.”
“When I was talking about working all the time, I’m not going to do all these damn shows. I’m not going to be on ESPN 1, 2, 3, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not going to be doing all that.”
Barkley also pointed to ESPN’s wide range of platforms, noting that Inside The NBA could have been featured more consistently across the network’s coverage.
He said the limited schedule has made it difficult for the crew to build momentum and deliver the chemistry that defined their success on TNT.
Charles Barkley expects expanded coverage to ease frustration
Charles Barkley said he expects the frustration to fade as ESPN increases Inside The NBA’s on-air frequency later in the season.
He revealed that the show is set to air 15 times between February and April before transitioning to nightly coverage during the NBA playoffs.
Barkley said the group remains enthusiastic about working together and views the expanded schedule as an opportunity to reconnect with viewers who have followed the show for years.
The new broadcast plan positions ESPN to make Inside The NBA a consistent feature of its basketball lineup heading into the playoffs.
The adjustment is expected to satisfy both Barkley’s desire for more airtime and fans’ calls for the show’s regular return.
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