Charles Barkley on ESPN–brace yourself for the unexpected. As now known, Warner Bros. Discovery settled its lawsuit against the NBA, by reaching a deal, that although does not provide them rights to broadcast regular and postseason NBA games, it still enables the network to create new NBA-themed programming for US and international audiences. And as a part of this, Inside the NBA will now be moving to ESPN. TNT, however, has ensured not to disappoint the fans with his change,

Maintaining the essence as far as the terms can stretch and attempting to keep the backlash for the move at bay, not only will the show be licensed by TNT, but the entire cast will remain the same. And if you’re worried ESPN might try to tone down Barkley’s antics, think again. TNT will still have “complete editorial control” over the show, according to Front Office Sports.

One insider couldn’t resist summing it up–“The best sports show on TV survives. The Chuckster gets to say whatever the he-l he wants. And ESPN finally gets their hands on Barkley and Inside the NBA.” Another source threw in a little warning for ESPN, “Charles will be Charles. ESPN might want to cover their ears.” 

For longtime Barkley fans, the irony here is almost too good. Remember how Chuck used to take shots at ESPN? During a recent appearance on Podcast P with Paul George itself, he didn’t hold back. Explaining why he thought ESPN couldn’t create something like Inside the NBA.

“They never give anybody a chance to get any chemistry. They’re all kind of throwing stuff at the wall… and then they’re like, ‘It didn’t work.’ Well, you didn’t give it a chance to work,” Barkley said. Now, fast forward to this deal, and it’s hard not to chuckle. The same ESPN Barkley has critiqued for years will now air the very show he claims they could never pull off.

The time when Charles Barkley took shots at an ESPN analyst

It all began with Barkley criticizing Team USA’s shaky performance in the Olympics, particularly their struggle against Serbia in the semi-finals. Although Team USA eventually bagged the gold medal, Perkins wasn’t having it. He openly disagreed with Barkley, sparking a heated exchange.

And Barkley’s response? He went straight, throwing shade at the former player’s career stats. “First of all, listen, don’t bring up a guy who averaged five points a game. I’m not gonna stoop to his level. You average five points a game. Shut the hell up!” This, however, was not the only instance of back-and-forth between the analysts on two different networks.

Perk had also clashed with both Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal over their dismissal of the New York Knicks as Finals contenders. Even accusing them of not watching the games. It’s no surprise that these heated debates often spill over between networks, keeping fans entertained—and divided.

Yet, for all his issues with ESPN’s programming, it’s not as if Barkley has no respect for ESPN or its analysts. That being said, no one expected him him to join the network anytime soon. As he bluntly told Jimmy Traina on the SI Media Podcast, “ESPN Radio, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes. I mean, HELL NO…”  But now that Barkley is eventually bringing this unfiltered version on ESPN, things are likely to get interesting. At least that’s what sources close to Front Office Sports indicate.