ADAM Silver is giving Inside the NBA fans hope for the future of the show.
The NBA commissioner made it known that anything can happen during contract negotiations.
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While it has been widely speculated that NBC won the NBA’s latest media rights package, Silver made it clear that may not be the case.
He was approached by TMZ on Thursday and made it known that negotiations could still be ongoing.
When asked about fans’ concerns about missing Inside the NBA, he offered some hope.
“Who knows,” said Silver.
“We’re all still talking. Who knows how this will work out.”
Silver also made it clear that he didn’t think the Inside the NBA finale would mean fans would lose their favorite personalities.
“We will never lose Charles and Kenny,” Silver said.
“They will always cover the NBA. I can’t imagine these guys [on Inside the NBA] we won’t be performing and announcing together in the future and we all love you.”
While Silver may have given fans some optimism, Charles Barkley has consistently told the media that he has no hope.
Barkley said TNT “messed up” when talking about negotiations on The Dan Patrick Show.
“Morale is shit. Plain and simple. I feel really bad for the people I work with, Dan,” Barkley said.
“These people have families and I really feel bad for them right now.
“You know, these people I work with have clearly screwed up and we have no idea what’s going to happen.”
Barkley also revealed that he is talking to the Inside the NBA cast members about signing with his company, Fine Line Productions.
Inside the future of the NBA?
The operation of the NBA on TNT Sports is in great doubt due to the NBA’s broadcast agreements.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA ends after next season and NBC appears poised to take over those rights in a $2.6 billion deal.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it will raise serious questions about the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which would snatch the rights from the NBA.
Only Ernie Johnson would not be included, as he committed to remaining with TNT even if they lost the NBA rights.
“Like I said, we’re just sitting there waiting for these people to figure out what they’re going to do,” Barkley said.
While things may be dire, the NBA on TNT may not be doomed just yet.
However, if NBC wins the NBA rights, Inside the NBA will end after the 2024-25 season.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
