NBA analyst Charles Barkley has said that LIV Golf needs to offer him “something crazy” to make him leave his TNT career. He made the comment while appearing on The Dan Patrick Show on Monday.
This statement followed his meeting with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. Barkley said they discussed a possible role in the golf tour.
Norman invited Barkley to participate in the LIV Golf Pro-Am at Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County, New Jersey. The event will be attended by former President Donald Trump.
“I met with Greg [Norman], he asked me if I was interested,” Barkley told show host Dan Patrick.
“I said ‘I wouldn’t have dinner with you if I wasn’t interested.’ I’m waiting for them to make me an offer, I guess. That’s all I know so far, but it’s been very stressful on me.”
Offer deadline
Patrick asked what Barkley’s reason for joining LIV Golf despite his lengthy career at TNT would be, to which Barkley answered “money”.
“Listen, I’m not going to get on here and say it’s not about the money. Of course, it’s about the money. … I love TNT, but, you know, they’re giving guys $200 million, $150 million, $125. I’d be stupid not to listen to that conversation,” Barkley said.
LIV Golf is known to be generous to its players. Some major tour golfers have joined LIV because they can make more money while playing fewer games.
“Considering how much I make now, it’s gonna take something crazy for me to give up my life…I don’t like talking about how much money I make,” Barkley continued.
Patrick tried to guess Barkley’s salary at TNT. Barkley recently told the New York Post that his basic annual paycheck was $10 million. Therefore, Patrick said Barkley’s yearly payroll was $20 million, including endorsements.
“Let’s say you make $20 million between endorsements and TNT. Maybe that’s high,” Patrick said.
“I’ll tell you right now that it’s not,” Barkley replied.
Patrick then asked what Barkley would do if the LIV Golf offered triple that amount.
“If they triple it, your first question should be, ‘Charles, where we celebrating at tonight?’,” Barkley said.
Barkley said he gave the tour until Thursday to make their offer. He will be playing golf at the Pro-Am that day and meeting the executives. If they still do not make any moves when he leaves, Barkley said, “It’s over.”
The former NBA basketball player explained that he had to inform his decision to the TNT soon. He said he did not want to “keep TNT in limbo”.
“I don’t think it’s fair to them,” Barkley said.
Barkley still has three years in his deal with TNT. The basketball analyst said he recognized the risk of working with the Saudi-backed golf tour. He might lose endorsements and his popularity due to his association with the organization.
Barkley is currently an analyst for TNT’s Inside the NBA. He has been in the show since the 2000-01 season. He has worked together with Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith.