As Charles Barkley wraps up his first season of Inside the NBA on ESPN, he has some harsh words for people who have accused the show of "dying" since moving away from TNT.
Appearing on Jimmy Traina's SI Media podcast, Barkley pushed back strong on the idea that the show has changed since its move to ESPN. He said that he hasn't noticed any changes and is having "a great time" working with ESPN.
“I don’t know about that, I think when you don’t see us enough, it’s hard to assume what’s happening is happening, to be honest with you,” Barkley said. “I don’t think we changed anything. For what it’s worth, I’ve had a great time with ESPN, I think all the guys have.”
A for Effort
Barkley added that ESPN also seems pleased with what they've seen from Barkley, Shaq, Kenny and Ernie. He said that if it seems like the energy isn't always there, it's because they're working about seven hours trying to keep people entertained.
“I don’t think we’ve changed anything,” Barkley insisted again. “We want people to have fun. We’re trying to entertain people. I think people don’t understand, we’re on television from 7 o’clock to 2 in the damn morning. How many people really know enough about basketball for us to X and O them from seven to two in the morning? We have an obligation to entertain people. Do people really want to see us four dummies sit there from 7 o’clock to 2 in the morning and talk about picks and roll, blitzes, over under, elbow wings and things like that? I want people to have fun watching basketball.
“People don’t understand all the intricacies of the X’s and O’s. We can sit there for five hours and talk like that, but nobody understands that. We want people to have fun watching basketball, because it’s stupid basketball! We’re not saving the world.”
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It certainly seems like Inside the NBA is largely the same as it's been for years. Chuck and Shaq still tease each other endlessly, Ernie is still the man who moves things along and Kenny is no less insightful now than he was five years ago.
Maybe it's just that the fans are changing and they can't handle that the Inside the NBA cast aren't changing as quickly as they are.
We may never know for sure.
