Charles Barkley not thrilled with early ‘Inside the NBA’ run on ESPN

Inside the NBA is in its early stages on ESPN and ABC, but Charles Barkley is already making it clear he is not thrilled with how things are rolling out.

Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Barkley said he has complained to ESPN executives about the show’s limited airtime so far this season. As relayed by Barkley, the crew has only appeared on ESPN four times in the season’s first three months, including just one show in December (Christmas Day).

That is not what Barkley signed up for. He said he wants to be around the game more often, but not scattered across multiple channels or stretched too thin. In classic Barkley fashion, he also joked that if ESPN ever fires him for calling coworkers “idiots” or “jackasses,” they will still owe him the remainder of his seven-year deal.

Despite the early frustration, more appearances are on the way, with upcoming episodes scheduled in late January. And the long-term plan remains big-picture. The show will air around marquee events, including the NBA Finals, conference finals, and playoff coverage.

Production will still be handled by TNT Sports out of Atlanta, keeping the familiar feel intact.

In other words, the show is not changing. Barkley is not changing. And the complaints are probably just getting started.