Charles Barkley breaks his silence as popular TNT show 'Inside the NBA' with Shaquille O'Neal faces the AXE

Charles Barkley fears up to 200 people could lose their jobs after it emerged that popular show 'Inside the NBA' is facing the axe.

The analyst also insisted that iconic host Ernie Johnson would not join another broadcaster if TNT loses the rights to air the NBA.

Reports on Tuesday claimed that the league is close to signing television deals with ESPN, Amazon and NBC for a combined $7.4billion per year.

TNT has built a beloved broadcasting crew featuring Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Johnson. 

But 'Inside the NBA' is now slated to end after the 2024/25 season. 'It sucks right now, for the people I work with,' Barkley said.

Charles Barkley fears 200 people could lose their jobs with 'Inside the NBA ' facing the axe

TNT has built a popular crew of (L-R) Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and  Barkley

'There's nothing I can say - I am worried about all the people I work with,' he told Sirius XM.

'I really feel bad, man. Because 200 people are probably going to lose their jobs internally if we lose the NBA.'

Barkley suggested he would be open to working for other broadcasters, should his time with TNT come to an end. But he claimed Johnson, 67, would sooner retire than move.

'I don't want to lie to you, I know Ernie would not go anywhere else - he's almost 70 years old, I think he's going to retire sooner than later,' Barkley said. 

'I don't know what's going to happen to Amazon, ESPN or if we lose it to NBC. I'm not sure how to answer that question, honestly. I just don't know. 

Barkley claimed legendary host Johnson, 67, would sooner retire than join another network

'Ernie would not go to another network. I'm damn sure about that. I would listen before I made any decisions.'

Barkley insisted that his immediate reaction to Tuesday's news was not sadness but: 'Damn I get to play more golf?'

'I just turned 61, I have enough money. I don't even look at it as getting fired,' he continued.

'What am I thinking right now? Please hurry up and get this Western Conference finals over because I can play golf every day for the next four months and I love it man. I play golf every single day or I go fishing - I love doing nothing.'