Charles Barkley’s Biggest Concern Is Put To Rest as Ernie Johnson Confirms Major Relief for Over 100 TNT Employees

Charles Barkley isn’t the kind of guy to stress about himself. Money? He’s set. Job security? Networks were lining up with $100 million offers. But his Inside the NBA family? That’s what kept him up at night.

For months, the fate of the show and its 100+ crew members was a giant question mark. With TNT losing its NBA rights, Barkley feared his longtime colleagues—producers, editors, camera operators—might be left jobless. He was frustrated, even furious, about the lack of transparency. The uncertainty was eating him up.

But now? The wait is finally over. And for Barkley, it’s the best possible news.

On The Dan Patrick Show, Ernie Johnson—the man who’s been the backbone of Inside the NBA for decades—finally gave everyone the clarity they needed.

“This is the plan,” Ernie revealed. “We’re going to continue to do the show. It’s just not going to air on TNT because the NBA on TNT is no more after these playoffs. But we’ll still do the show in Atlanta. We’ll still do it with the production crew. It’ll just air on ABC and ESPN on certain nights.”

Just like that, the weight came off Barkley’s shoulders.

This wasn’t just about keeping the show alive—it was about keeping the family together. Same city, same crew, same legendary chemistry. After months of silence from TNT’s higher-ups, this was the confirmation Chuck had been desperately waiting for.

Charles Barkley’s loyalty pays off

Here’s the thing about Barkley: he doesn’t chase the biggest paycheck. When other networks dangled massive contracts in front of him, he didn’t bite. Instead, he stood firm, refusing to make a move until he knew what would happen to his Inside crew. “The No. 1 thing for me is my people at Turner get to keep their jobs for at least another year,” he had said.

Now, not only are they safe, but they’re continuing the show as a unit. And for Barkley, that’s worth more than any contract offer.

Of course, it’s going to feel weird seeing Inside the NBA on ABC and ESPN instead of TNT. The show and the network have been linked for over 30 years. But the magic of the legendary show and its beloved foursome was never about the channel it aired on—it was about the people who made it special.

And now, thanks to Ernie’s confirmation, that magic is here to stay. For Barkley, for Shaq, for Kenny, and for the hundreds of behind-the-scenes staff who make the show happen, this isn’t just a relief. It’s a win.

The lights won’t go out. The crew won’t be left behind. Inside the NBA lives on. And Charles Barkley? He can finally sleep easy knowing his family is staying together.