Sports media has become a booming industry over the years. We see a ton of former sports players turn into analysts on TV and the internet. Among them, TNT’s Inside the NBA is a beloved show, mostly because of the camaraderie between NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. So understandably, the former NBA stars are well respected within the community and are two of the most sought-after figures. One might assume that getting in touch with them would be difficult. However, that wasn’t the case for a renowned journalist.

Barkley has become one of the most loved television personalities. He is oftentimes seen making appearances in several shows and podcasts. One might think that it’s quite difficult to reach out to the former MVP, but turns out that’s not the case.

Journalist opens on his experience of working with Barkley

Jimmy Traina of Sport Illustrated recently hosted Charles Barkley on a podcast episode. It was one of the highest trending episodes on the internet and the review the episode got was solid. One of the users asked Traina how nervous he was while texting the basketball great and whether he thought the former Philadelphia 76ers star would respond. Jimmy made a rather surprising revelation.

As per SI, Jimmy Traina said, “I wasn’t necessarily nervous about texting him. I was nervous about not getting a response. I thought it would be 50/50 that he’d respond and 90/10 that he would say he wasn’t interested in coming on the podcast. It ended up being one of the easiest bookings I’ve had since I made contact with a potential guest.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Charles Barkley credits X Factor behind Lakers billionaire success.

Traina thought Barkley wouldn’t bother responding to his texts but to his pleasant surprise getting him was not tedious at all. Sport Illustrated bestowed Charles Barkley with a rather special honor a few months back.

Charles Barkley honored by a Sports Magazine

Charles Barkley’s versatile self after dominating on the basketball court won a major honor off of it. He was announced as one of the ‘Top 10 Most Influential Personalities in Sports Media’. Barkley’s outspoken self on television shows has made him a fan favorite and the Olympic gold medalist never thinks twice before giving his brutally honest opinion.

Whether it be politics, basketball, or any other trending topic on the internet, Barkley never fails to give his two cents on the matter. What are your thoughts on the Barkley easily accepting Jimmy Traina’s offer? Let us know in the comments below.

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