Sports
Charles Barkley says he has 'spoken to all 3 networks' during TNT's dispute with NBA over media rights bid
The NBA rejected a bid from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to exercise its right to match an offer from Amazon for a part of the league’s 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal Wednesday.
Less than 48 hours after the announcement, WBD, TNT’s parent company, filed a lawsuit under seal in New York County Supreme Court.
Charles Barkley, the Hall of Famer and longtime co-host of TNT’s popular “Inside the NBA,” reacted to the company’s failed attempt to renew media rights.
“Clearly the NBA has wanted to break up with us from the beginning. I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” he wrote in a statement. In June, Barkley revealed his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA season. On Friday, he hinted he was open to other opportunities.
Charles Barkley speaks onstage Feb. 12, 2015, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for American Express)
“I have spoken to all three networks. … I have spoke to three networks,” Barkley said Friday during an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show.”
When Patrick asked whether Barkley would follow through with his retirement plans since he was fielding calls from other media companies, the NBA legend said he was “going to listen” to what the networks had to say.
‘INSIDE THE NBA’ HOST CHARLES BARKLEY HINTS SPLIT WITH LEAGUE WAS INEVITABLE: ‘NOT SURE TNT EVER HAD A CHANCE’
“First of all, I’d be stupid not to take their call, but the beauty of this situation … I don’t have to make any decision for a year, Dan,” Barkley said. “But I told all three networks, ‘Hey I’m honored. I’m flattered that ya’ll want to talk to me, but let’s see what happens in a year.”
In May, the Sports Business Journal reported that Barkley has a clause in his contract that allows him to go elsewhere once the network’s NBA deal runs out.
Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley from TNT talk Feb. 17, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Brandon Todd/NBAE via Getty Images)
Barkley confirmed the terms of his lucrative contract with TNT and revealed the deal is structured in a way that allows him to become a free agent once the 2024-25 NBA season ends.
“My deal is ten years, $210 million. Next year will be year three,” Barkley told Patrick. “Turner has to come to me today or next week and say, ‘Hey, we screwed up. Will you take a payout?’ So, they are going to have to guarantee the whole ten years, $210 (million), or they are going to have to ask me to take a pay cut, which, under no circumstances am I taking a pay cut. Zero chances of me taking a pay cut.”
He added that while he anticipates being a highly sought media personality next year, he also reaffirmed his intention to bring his broadcasting career to a close.
“But I don’t see them (TNT) guaranteeing it to be honest because they don’t really have anything. So, I think I’m going to be a free agent next summer. Right now, my intention is to retire.”
A basketball on the court next to an NBA logo during a break in the first half of a game in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The terms of the new media rights agreements maintain broadcasting rights for Disney’s ABC and ESPN platforms, while also marking the return of NBA games to NBC and the introduction of games to the company’s Peacock streaming service. Amazon Prime Video also picks up a package of games slated to begin after the 2024-25 season.
However, the lawsuit from WBD signals that the battle for the NBA’s broadcasting rights could ultimately play out in a courtroom. WBD released a statement explaining its decision to file the suit.
“Given the NBA’s unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer, we have taken legal action to enforce our rights,” WBD said in a statement. “We strongly believe this is not just our contractual right, but also in the best interest of fans who want to keep watching our industry-leading NBA content with the choice and flexibility we offer them through our widely distributed WBD video-first distribution platforms – including TNT and Max.”
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Sports
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo makes NBA history with 83-point game
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Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo made NBA history on Tuesday night.
Adebayo scored 83 points, all while setting league marks for free throws made and attempted in a game for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. It is the second-highest scoring game for a player ever, only to Wilt Chamberlain’s famed 100-point game.
“An absolutely surreal night,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game.
Adebayo started with a 31-point first quarter. He was up to 43 at halftime, 62 by the end of the third quarter. And then came the fourth, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple- and what once appeared to be a quadruple-team from a Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line.
He finished 20 of 43 from the field, 36 of 43 from the foul line, 7 for 22 from 3-point range.
After the game, he was seen in tears while he hugged his mother, Marilyn Blount, before leaving the floor after the game.
“Welp won’t have the highest career high in the house anymore,” Adebayo’s girlfriend, four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, wrote on social media, “but at least it gives me something to go after.”
MAGIC’S ANTHONY BLACK MAKES INCREDIBLE DUNK OVER FOUR DEFENDERS IN HISTORIC NBA GAME
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 10, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The NBA’s previous best this season was 56, by Nikola Jokic for Denver against Minnesota on Christmas night. The last player to have 62 points through three quarters: one of Adebayo’s basketball heroes, Kobe Bryant, who had exactly that many through three quarters for the Los Angeles Lakers against Dallas on Dec. 20, 2005.
He wound up passing Bryant for single-game scoring as well. Bryant’s career-best was 81 — a game that was the second-best on the NBA scoring list for two decades.
Adebayo scored 31 points in the opening quarter against the Wizards, breaking the Heat record for points in any quarter — and tying the team record for points in a first half before the second quarter even started.
He finished the first half with 43 points, a team record for any half and two points better than his previous career high — for a full game, that is — of 41, set Jan. 23, 2021, against Brooklyn.
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Adebayo’s season high entering Tuesday was 32. He matched that with a free throw with 5:53 left in the second quarter, breaking the Heat first-half scoring record.
Adebayo’s 43-point first half was the NBA’s second-best in at least the last 30 seasons — going back to the start of the digital play-by-play era that began in the 1996-97 season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Kings lose in overtime to the Boston Bruins
BOSTON — Charlie McAvoy scored 39 seconds into overtime and Jeremy Swayman stopped 14 shots on Tuesday night to earn the Boston Bruins their 13th straight victory at home, 2-1 over the Kings.
Mason Lohrei scored midway through the third period to break a scoreless tie. But the Kings tied it five minutes later when Drew Doughty’s shot from the blue line deflected off the heel of Bruins forward Elias Lindholm and into the net.
It was the seventh straight time the teams had gone to overtime in Boston.
In the overtime, Mark Kastelic blocked a shot in the defensive zone and made a long pass to David Pastrnak, who waited for McAvoy to come into the zone. The Bruins’ defenseman and U.S. Olympian, who went to the locker room at the end of the second period after taking a puck off his mouth, skated in on Darcy Kuemper and went to his backhand for the winner.
Kuemper stopped 21 shots for the Kings, who entered the night one point out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The victory kept Boston in possession of the East’s second wild-card spot.
Swayman tied his career high with his 25th win of the season. The Bruins haven’t lost at the TD Garden since before Christmas.
After the game, Kings forward and future Hall of Famer Anze Kopitar stayed on the ice to shake hands with the Bruins after what is expected to be his last game in Boston.
Sports
Jon Jones requests UFC release after Dana White says legend was ‘never’ considered him for White House card
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Mixed martial arts legend Jon Jones ended his retirement from UFC simply because he wanted a spot on the “Freedom 250” fight card at the White House in June.
But, when UFC CEO Dana White announced the card during UFC 326 this past weekend, Jones wasn’t among the fighters. As a result, he has requested a release from his UFC contract.
White was candid when asked about Jones following the UFC 326 card.
Jon Jones of the United States of America reacts after his TKO victory against Stipe Miocic of the United States of America in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, 2024 in New York City. ((Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images))
“Never, ever, ever, which I told you guys a hundred thousands times, was Jon Jones ever even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,” White explained, per CBS Sports. “Some guy with Meta Glasses filmed him talking about his hips – that his hips are so bad. And I don’t know if you guys saw that flag football game where he can barely run. Jon Jones retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips. Apparently, doctors say he should have a hip replacement.”
White added that “the Jon Jones thing is bulls—,” saying that he texted the fighter’s lawyer saying he would never be on the White House card despite Jones saying he was in negotiations for it.
UFC ANNOUNCES CARD FOR WHITE HOUSE EVENT
The Meta Glasses incident White is referring to came from a viral video, where Jones, unaware he was being filmed, discussed issues with his hips to a fan.
On Monday, Jones composed a thorough response to White’s comments about him and the White House Card. He previously posted and deleted social media explanations, but Monday’s appeared to be his final statement on the matter.
UFC President Dana White speaks after UFC Fight Night at Toyota Center on Feb. 21, 2026. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
“Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight,” Jones, who retired a heavyweight champion in 2025, said. “So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense. I even received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card, and training camp was scheduled to start today. I was preparing to be ready.
“I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right. After everything I’ve given to the UFC, the years, the title defenses, the fights, hearing that I’m ‘done’ is disappointing. Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number.”
Jones finished his statement by saying he “respectfully” asks to be released from his UFC contract.
Jon Jones enters the ring before facing Stipe Miocic in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, New York. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
“No more spins, no more games. Thank you to the real fans who know what’s up,” he wrote.
The UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.
Jones is considered one of the best UFC fighters of all time, owning a 28-1-1 record, which includes his last bout with Stipe Miocic, knocking him out to take the heavyweight title belt. He is also a two-time light heavyweight champion.
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