Charles Barkley must’ve forgotten he’s an ESPN guy now.
The “Inside the NBA” co-star, who used to be seen on TNT broadcasts before the show moved over to the Worldwide Leader this season, criticized ESPN’s lead NBA insider Shams Charania after he broke news on social media about the NBA MVP award before the official league announcement.
“I like him a lot, but I didn’t like that leaking,” Barkley told Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina.
“(Amazon) paid $2.5 billion for the next 11 years. I think they deserved an exclusive. I think the NBA should be embarrassed that that got out. “You know, you can’t charge these networks that much money and then don’t give them some exclusives on some things. I mean, I just think that’s unfair.”
The NBA was scheduled to announce Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the NBA MVP during its Amazon Prime Video studio show on May 17, but got scooped by Charania at 9 a.m. ET, citing multiple sources.
Gilgeous-Alexander won the MVP award cleanly, as a panel of 100 media members gave him 83 first-place votes for 939 voting points overall to claim his second straight award.
Nikola Jokic came in second place with 10 first-place votes and 634 points — the second straight year he’s been runner-up to SGA.
Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama came in a distant third place, receiving five first-place votes and 569 points.
Charania’s scoop has upset some in the industry, as former NBA star Blake Griffin called him out during an Amazon broadcast.
“What are we doing?” Griffin said. “Like, it’s Sunday, Shams. Go to brunch, you nerd.”
ESPN personality Malika Andrews joked with Charania about it shortly after, but he didn’t appear in a joking mood about it.
“Let’s say hello to our senior insider, Shams Charania, who joins us fresh off brunch,” Andrews said.
Charania did not crack a smile as he began his segment.
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