Charles Barkley 'would love ESPN to fire him' as NBA icon leaves TNT

Charles Barkley has claimed he's immune to being sacked by ESPN for his blunt commentary and basketball insight because he "makes too much money to get fired". Barkley, who appears alongside Shaquille O'Neal as part of the TNT team, is a vital element of the network's esteemed 'Inside the NBA' show, completed by personalities Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith.

In a recent twist, Barkley hijacked a CBS interview designed to shine a spotlight on his new book. He also stirred things up earlier in the week when NBA Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson appeared on the program. This flurry of activity came soon after the 62-year-old shared his concerns about NFL legend Bill Belichick due to his girlfriend Jordon Hudson's involvement with Stephen A. Smith.

On Friday, during an episode of 'Don't @ Me' with Dan Dakich, Barkley was asked whether Stephen A. Smith had any shot at the US presidency, to which he emphatically replied, "Hell no!"

Famous for his no-holds-barred approach, there's been speculation that ESPN may call for Barkley to curb his direct style as he prepares to switch from TNT before the start of the 2025/26 basketball season. Yet Barkley confronted these rumours head-on.

"I'm not going to change my personality," he confirmed to Outkick when questioned if his approach would differ next season. "They can't fire me! I make too much money to get fired. So, they can't fire me. First of all, if they fire me, they got to pay me for seven years, and I'm going to quit way before then.

"But if they want to fire me, I would love for them to do that. The only decision we've been making is how long I'm going to work... I'm not worried about getting fired. And nobody at ESPN is going to tell me what to say or do. Period."

This comes in the wake of Barkley penning a staggering 10-year, $210million deal in 2022 to serve as an analyst on "Inside the NBA". With no less than seven years remaining on his contract, it would cost ESPN a pretty penny to dismiss him prematurely.

As the programme transitions from TNT Sports to ESPN's platform, Barkley continues to stand firm, insisting, "Nobody's going to tell me what to say, or what to do."

He didn't stop there, either. Barkley also took a swipe at potential ESPN cohort Kendrick Perkins, mocking his understanding by saying he doesn't "know his ass from a hole in the wall" and challenging his view that the Lakers are title contenders.

Following the seismic news of ESPN's takeover of Inside the NBA, Barkley initially hinted at hanging up his hat but quickly changed his tune, justifying his initial retirement threat as a means to "to make sure the people I love and work with for the last 25 years got a job."

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