Over the years, we have become accustomed to Charles Barkley grieving his issues about ESPN. It also got to a point where the TNT analyst even mocked and took shots at the rival network’s analyst. But from next season, he will be part of the network. While that’s for the future. Recently, a former ESPN employee revealed the extent to which the network was ready to cater to the 76ers legend.

“One of the first times I met him, I did a Sunday conversation when he was with Philly still, uh no, he was with Phoenix.” Dan Patrick recalled one of the earlier meetings with Charles Barkley when he was still playing in the league. “He talked about of being a woman and so we had somebody at ESPN kind of make him up as a woman. And we used the picture on the Sunday conversation with him and he got the biggest kick out of that.”

Back in the day, Patrick’s ESPN crew had some fun at Charles Barkley’s expense, creating an image of him dressed as a woman—a joke the 62-year-old actually found hilarious.

Fast forward to now, and let’s just say Chuck isn’t exactly a fan of the $24 billion network, especially with their futures now colliding. With the new media deal kicking in next season, TNT lost its NBA broadcasting rights—which also means saying goodbye to the beloved Inside the NBA. And guess who swooped in to claim the Emmy-winning show? ESPN.

But the details about the timings and production are yet to be hashed out. Let’s not forget that Charles Barkley also took a shot at their overworked schedule. “They’re not gonna work me like a dog.” Along with Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, they will be under the same network that already has Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins, amongst others.

Charles Barkley’s not-so-civil war with ESPN analysts

Last season, during the playoffs, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal called Perkins a “roach”. The feud has not died down since. This year, a few weeks ago, amidst the Lakers’ unbeaten run, Kendrick Perkins hyped the Purple and Gold franchise to another extent. He would go on state that the Lakers saved the NBA season, which did not go well with Chuck.

“He an idiot and a fool, he know who he is. Kendrick Perkins…The fools on the other network (ESPN), which we’re going to be working for next year.” It was Stephen A. Smith who came in to save his current co-host. “I hope Big Perk doesn’t get mad at me for saying this; I had to call him yesterday and talk him a little off the edge ’cause he wanted to hurt somebody.”

Then SAS suggested that the narrative flaws Charles Barkley will be doing at ESPN to please the demographic. It will be interesting to see if the network listens to Chuck as they did, as Dan Patrick mentioned. Reportedly, the network won’t interfere with the production or anything related to the show. Even if they do, the 76ers legend might be the first one to point it out.