Legendary basketball player turned broadcaster Charles Barkley is reportedly in talks with CNN for a late-night show.
Barkley has more than 20 years of television experience and is an NBA analyst on the long-running sports show «Inside the NBA» on TNT. But he recently revealed that he’s only considering the CNN show because of the possibility of working with newscaster Gayle King.
«They’re trying to set us up with Gayle King,» Barkley told the New York Post. «We don’t have anything set in stone. I’m just considering it out of respect for Gayle.»
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Charles Barkley is honored for being selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team during halftime of the NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on February 20, 2022. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Any potential Barkley-King shows would not air every weekday night, likely due to their respective current schedules.
Even if Barkley were more available, he doesn’t seem willing to do a late-night show: «That’s never going to happen,» Barkley said.
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According to Puck, a digital media platform, CNN has had an interest in King for some time. She currently co-hosts the show «CBS Mornings.»
Barkley, who turned 60 earlier this week, recently signed a 10-year contract with TNT parent company Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) after flirting with LIV Golf to join their broadcast team. He also previously mentioned that he would look to retire once he turns 60.
Barkley’s broadcast partners Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith have also signed extensions with the network. O’Neal and Smith have the ability to play on Barkley’s personality while Johnson is the point. The chemistry between the four of them has helped the show maintain its popularity over the years.
charles barkley (Prince Williams/Wireimage/Archive)
WBD will have to renegotiate its deal with the NBA after the 2024-2025 season, as the broadcast rights contract will expire at that time. WBD also owns CNN.
«I just want to help the company out because it’s obviously a shit show right now,» Barkley said. «Anything I can do to help.»
Barkley has often weighed in on issues outside of the sports world over the years.
King Gayle (AP Photo/Richard Drew/File)
Meanwhile, King has been in a relationship with CNN CEO Chris Licht since they worked together at CBS more than a decade ago. Barkley and King became friends after he appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
She spoke highly of King when asked what it would be like to partner her on a show: «It would be an honor and a privilege to work with Gayle,» Barkley said.
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It’s unclear when a potential show would begin airing, if a deal were to be reached. Barkley will soon begin his broadcast duties for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament before beginning his NBA playoff coverage.