The NBA’s recent decision to finalize an 11-year broadcasting agreement with Amazon Prime Video, Disney, and NBC, excluding Warner Bros., has sparked significant controversy. Charles Barkley openly criticized the move, which in turn prompted a heated response from fellow analyst Stephen A. Smith.
Stephen A. Smith addressed Barkley’s remarks in the latest episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on YouTube, defending the NBA’s shift in broadcasting partnerships as a natural industry progression.
“Everybody’s looking to get paid, everybody’s trying to get paid, and those people at TNT are incredibly talented,” Smith said, emphasizing the financial motivations behind the new deals.
Smith also suggested that top talent would inevitably follow the lucrative opportunities provided by the new networks. “And if you are Amazon, if you are ESPN-ABC, if you are NBC and what have you, look at them. There’s a lot of talent to pluck from that tree. They know what they’re doing over there,” Smith added.
RELATED: Charles Barkley Reacts to NBA Decision After It Fails To Allow TNT To Match TV Rights Offer
This new broadcasting deal means the 2024–25 season will be TNT’s last after nearly four decades of broadcasting NBA games since 1989.
Before addressing Barkley’s criticism, Stephen A. Smith voiced his own frustration over TNT losing the NBA broadcast rights, describing it as a significant misstep for the network. On his YouTube show, Smith criticized TNT’s loss candidly. “How many episodes of Law & Order can you air?” he questioned, highlighting the network’s reliance on reruns in the absence of NBA content.
Smith further acknowledged the value of TNT’s NBA commentary team, consisting of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, praising their exceptional talent and suggesting that other networks should seize the opportunity to bring them on board. “Anybody who can get their hands on Charles Barkley, Shaq, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson should do it. Even if it’s ESPN,” Smith added.
Reports indicate that TNT isn’t likely to concede without a legal battle, as the network is preparing for a potential showdown over the lost broadcasting rights.
The shift marks a significant change in the NBA’s media landscape, and the ensuing fallout will likely shape the future of sports broadcasting.
