After 34 years, TNT and NBA cut ties in a deal that shook the basketball fraternity. Their stylish scoreboards in broadcasting live long in many fans’ memories as the NBA signed a deal with Amazon to stream the games. It will end the TNT broadcasting following this season. So what about the jobs of people, who gave their all to TNT to make NBA great to watch for fans? On the flip side, Charles Barkley gets a personal assistant though.

Naturally, when the TNT’s contract expires at the end of the season, multiple jobs are on the line. Be it a cameraman, light assistant, or any other person related to the show could have a dampness in their job security. However, with Charles Barkley, the show’s bundle of energy, the TNT production company hired one intern from Auburn University to help with Barkley’s schedule. Notably, the former Phoenix Suns player went to Auburn from 1981 to 1984.

In a surprising turn of events, Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley receive a call from an Auburn intern in their show, ‘The Steam Room.’ She credited Barkley for getting her hired to TNT before asking about Auburn basketball. Jojo Cavanaugh, an intern studying Sports Production Journalism, attends the same college as Chuck.

In the meantime, she is also part of the TNT family and worked as a Charles Barkley talent relations intern. However, she didn’t get a chance to meet Chuck. Who doesn’t want to meet the legendary human being?

She even had her producer Kap FaceTime Chuck, but he didn’t respond to the call. But she said, “Regardless, it was an honor to be your intern this summer, and I hope to meet you one day in the future.” Moreover, she invited him to her Auburn basketball podcast, as she hosts the show called ‘Straight Out the Jungle.’ She ended the voice clip but inquiring him about the Auburn Basketball schedule this season. Chuck, though, took notice of the intern and responded.

Charles Barkley responds to the intern’s wishes to meet him

“Yeah, that’s one of the cool things that TNT started doing for me. It’s been a while now. I get an Auburn intern every year. It’s pretty special. Means a lot to me. Thank you, TNT. I’m excited about this season, and I’d be happy to come on your podcast at some point. We’ll definitely meet. I’ll talk to somebody around here and make it happen,” mentioned Barkley, who loved the invite.

About Auburn’s schedule, “I don’t mind them having a tough schedule because I think it only makes you better.” 

Yet, it’s great to see Barkley giving this role to one student from his college. In the meantime, Chuck also gave tribute to Inside the NBA TNT producer, Tim Kiely (TK), who will return to TNT for their last season in the NBA. After jumping the ship 17 months before, he returned to the show to the joy of Barkley and Johnson.

Barkley stated, “Number 1, we are excited to have TK back. Because of all the other guys, my man, Keith, good luck in Phoenix. Keith Robinson, Jeremy. But Keith left us to go and run the Phoenix Suns television stuff. He gonna do great out there. He gonna love it out there. But glad to have TK back. TK is a legend.”

To have him back becomes a great addition to the show, as Chuck rightfully said, “One of the original visionaries of this show.” Hence, you can see the influence Barkley has on people. His magnetic personality remains infectious because, as fans, we hope TNT can come back next season. At least, let’s hope.