In late 2024, TNT and ESPN reached a historic licensing deal and, as part of it, Inside the NBA will air on the latter network starting this fall. Fans were elated to hear that announcement, though it was preceded by months of uncertainty.

Charles Barkley didn’t hold back as he tore into TNT’s handling of the loss of NBA rights, especially as Inside the NBA transitions to a new network. On the Pardon My Take podcast, Barkley vented about how TNT failed to keep him and his crew informed during the 2025 NBA Playoffs,