The NBA’s new media rights deal has thrown curveballs. Turner, a partner with the league for 40 years, is set to lose its authority over games. Warner Bros. Discovery’s reluctance could come at the cost of Inside the NBA, a show loved and watched by millions, to cease to exist. While there has been no official announcement just yet, Charles Barkley isn’t taking any chances regarding his employment. The award-winning analyst was on ESPN’s (one of the media rights deal partners) NHL Finals broadcast where he was initially approached by the presenters to join ESPN.

Later, they questioned him about negotiations other than TNT, and Charles Barkley revealed the dire picture. “I wish I had a job next year,” he jokingly said. It prompted a piece of advice for Barkley to join Linkedin and begin networking and finding ‘normal jobs’. There was just one problem-Chuck doesn’t boast an impressive resume. “I put on my resume, they all like ‘You never had a real job’. I said that’s not my fault,” he replied as he has only worked as an analyst for the last 24 years after a Hall of Fame NBA career. It’s not the first time the Suns legend blurted out that he is hunting for jobs as he made a similar claim on Inside the NBA a few weeks ago.

Moving away from jokes, there was another story that could potentially hamper Barkley’s chances of landing an analyst role in the future. According to Andrew Marchand, Amazon, who is one of the new partners in the NBA’s media rights deal is tempted to offer LeBron James an analyst role if he retires at the end of next season.

James, a basketball genius, is almost feared for his intellect and thorough knowledge of the game. Even then, his chances of replacing Barkley at any stage remain bleak. Not only is Barkley an Emmy-winning analyst with wild demand, but Bron also owns a production company. So if he were to transition, LeBron James would rather use his own agency to produce any show.

But where does this leave the 1992 Dream Team forward?

Charles Barkley could start a podcast like LeBron James!

Several athletes have launched their own podcasts over the last few years. Most recently, James got in on the action and started ‘Mind the Game’ with JJ Redick, a fellow savvy basketball analyst and friend. If no media job offers come pouring in for Barkley, he could take the Inside the NBA crew and start his very own podcast. The production value and logistics won’t be as sound and efficient as Turner offered. But it offers a glimmer of hope for the crew to stay together.

Why only a glimmer? It’s because there are certain complications with a few members of the crew. Firstly, Shaq, who shares a sacred dynamic with Barkley, already has his podcast. The NBA legend turned businessman might not like the idea of abandoning his own show.

Additionally, Ernie Johnson, the most senior member among everyone has vowed to stick with TNT even if they don’t win a media rights deal with the NBA. While he and Barkley do have a periodic podcast together (The Steam Room), it is operated by TNT, hence for Barkley to continue being a part of it, he will have to remain in contract with the network.