In case you wonder what Charles Barkley has been doing every Thursday on TV for half a year in the past two decades, it’s ‘scamming’ you. He openly admits it! And he’s going to keep the long con going with Round Mound Media. 2024 has been dramatic if you’re Charles Barkley. He canceled retirement, walked away from $100 million, and remained committed to TNT. But he’s been dropping hints about leaving anyway and relaunching his production studio is part of those plans. After 25 years on TV and five Sports Emmy Awards, Charles Barkley puts his job as a sportscaster in a unique perspective.

In a candid conversation on the ‘Throwbacks’ podcast with Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara, Barkley reflected on his career, calling his job the ‘most scam job in history.’ What’s really crazy, number one, they pay us to talk about sports. Now they’re giving us trophies!”, he joked, referencing his five Sports Emmy Awards and a dozen nominations, the latest in 2024.”

After retiring from the NBA in 2000, Barkley joined TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA,’ where he has remained a fixture for 25 years. In 2012, he made a similar comment about his job being ‘like highway robbery,’ a sentiment that persists despite signing a $210 million, 10-year contract extension in 2022.

“We should go to the bank with like a mask on… we’re gonna watch sports anyway, but to get paid to do it, it is like highway robbery. Now they’re giving us trophies!” he further revealed on the podcast.

Charles Barkley has long expressed his appreciation for fan support and the recognition he’s received, including multiple Emmy Awards. Despite some frustrations with TNT over the handling of NBA media rights negotiations, Barkley decided to stay with the network because of his strong connection with fans and colleagues.

Charles Barkley will keep the scam going

Sir Charles was mad at TNT for their handling of the NBA media rights negotiations. Despite announcing his retirement, he spoke to the new media partners who offered $100 million over his existing TNT contract. Barkley turned them down and, within months, relaunched Round Mound Media. It’s part of his commitment to develop new shows for TNT.

Former TNT exec, Jeff Zucker is a backer in his new studio. When Zucker was still at TNT, Barkley established the label in 2018. But he had only produced a couple of shows. Chuck felt that if TNT had backed him sooner, it would be another story.

“I’ve been disappointed in Turner for a long time, because this should have been done three years ago where I had more television production stuff out there,” Barkley said on Jim Jackson’s podcast right after his new move. “You know, they haven’t been a great partner. They’ve been a great TV partner as far as my basketball stuff…but as far as my television production…it should have happened probably five years ago.”

Barkley could still possibly retire as an NBA analyst after 2025. But he plans to produce new content, possibly with TNT having first rights to his shows. Regardless, he finds himself lucky to get in on this scam. Now this self-proclaimed scammer, who gets paid to watch and talk about sports, plans to leave it behind for a new role.