CHARLES BARKLEY RIPS THE NBA OVER REJECTION OF TNT SPORTS' BID TO MATCH AMAZON'S '$1.9 BILLION' OFFER AS HE BREAKS HIS SILENCE IN EMOTIONAL STATEMENT

Basketball Hall of Famer and 'Inside the NBA' analyst Charles Barkley has released a statement after the NBA rejected TNT Sports' bid to match an offer for the league's rights.

TNT was in a competition with Amazon, NBC, and ESPN to try and keep their hold on the rights for the world's top basketball league.

Barkley, who has been on the air with TNT since 2000, expressed his displeasure with the decision.

'Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I'm not sure TNT ever had a chance,' Barkley began.

'TNT matched the money, but the league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn't want to piss them off.

'It's a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans. It just sucks.

'I just want to thank everyone who has been at Turner for the last 24 years. They are the best people and the most talented and they deserve better.

'I also want to thank the NBA and its fans - the best fans in sports. We're going to give you everything we have next season.'

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2024-07-26T16:28:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd