Amid TNT Uncertainty, Matt Barnes Reveals Why “Tide Has Shifted” Against ESPN Despite Working There Before

After a 14-year career, Matt Barnes had no real intention of moving to the media industry upon retirement. “While I was playing, I never said, ‘hey I want to go into Media,'” he reveals. But fast forward to 2024, the host of “All the Smoke” is ready to celebrate the fifth anniversary. The success here has thus become a case for the former Golden State Warriors star in his view of the popularity of ‘big machines’ in the media industry off late and going forward.

Unlike the former analyst, ESPN has problems ahead of the new season. With the resignation of Adrian Wojnarowski, and losing lead commentator JJ Redick to the Lakers this summer, Barnes believes that the problems won’t go away soon.

“I think those big pillars and big machines will always be there, but you don’t have to be on those platforms now to have your voice heard, to go viral, or to make good money. The tide has shifted,” Matt Barnes revealed during an interview with Front Office Sports. “It’s the business. I had a good four-year run there and was just thankful for the opportunity. They’re ESPN at the top of the top and the Foxes.”

The former Warriors star felt that the fans don’t always rely on the big networks. “I think the smaller outlets, the smaller platforms, the player driven platforms are getting just as much covered, it’s going just as viral, and getting just as many, if not more views.” One doesn’t need to think hard for an unexpected crossover. As the Vice President and the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris was a guest on All the Smoke podcast.

That episode had more than 400k+ views on the YouTube channel. That’s why he is happy with the progress of his company.“You’re seeing a shift in how sports media is being portrayed,” Matt Barnes continued on FOS. “We’re really happy on where we’re at, and what we’ve built, and where we’re going to continue to build.”

That is why New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce was picked up by Amazon for over $100 million. With about 200 million viewers across the globe then, Amazon also became a preference for the NBA media rights against the 3-decade-old, TNT.

This factor, the increasing split of viewership among big guns and and new names, might just lead to Stephen A. Smith continuing with the ESPN.

Why do Matt Barnes and others feel the media veteran would re-sign?

The Former NBA Champion called it “absolutely incredible” for media veteran Smith for the reported $100 million contract. Earlier the management had offered Smith a 5-year deal worth $18 million per year, but he wanted a deal worth $25 million per year which would have fetched him $125 million in total.

Gilbert Arenas felt that ESPN would agree to the deal, to avoid competing with Smith. It is a competition because the media veteran has successfully built his presence on various social media platforms. “Somebody like Shannon, he has Club Shay Shay, he has Night Cap, so no matter what you do to him he still has big platform that he survives.”

Arenas continued on his podcast, “Stephen A Smith got smart and built his own platform. Then it’s going to take a year, two years. If you don’t pay him that, he’s going to go here pull full time in there seven days a week, talk about whatever the fu** he wants and he’s gonna draw you out.” 

Thanks to the overall growth of social media, the players and analysts have their voice and narratives, and it doesn’t seem to be dying anytime soon, or ever.