ESPN and NBC have now gone on record with their interest in hiring Charles Barkley away from TNT.
“Yeah,” Magnus responded. “Yeah. That would be a perfect world, actually. Charles is a singular talent.”
Barkley has stayed that he will remain with TNT despite the network losing NBA media rights after the 24-25 season.
“I would be lying if we said we weren’t interested in Charles,” Magnus said. “I think the entire industry is interested in Charles. He’s really that special. We’ll see.”
Magnus even added a recruiting pitch to Barkley.
“I just keep reassuring people that if you come work for us, that doesn’t mean you have to—this narrative gets started that if you come work for us, you also have to do 200 episodes of First Take or Get Up. The car wash—no. The car wash is for people who want their car washed.”
NBCUniversal chairman Mark Lazarus followed Magnus on stage at Tuned In and matched the frank admission. NBC will begin televising the NBA again with the 25-26 season.
“If Charles were available, we’d certainly love to have that conversation with him,” Lazarus told McCarthy. “We’ve known him for a long time. We’ve known him from the time that we were there in 2000 or so. So we think that Charles adds a great element to everything he does. He’s been a guest on our shows. If he were to be available, certainly we’d be talking to him. Unless Burke Magnus talks to him first.”
