"I'm hoping they fire me," Barkley joked during an appearance on Fox Sports Radio on Wednesday."I got six or seven years left on my contract that they know I got no chance of doing.
I would love for them to fire me and have to pay me for the next six or seven years."Barkley was referring to his reaction to Cardi B's halftime performance during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden."I don't know if those are B's.They might be Cardi D's," Barkley laughed on air.
"I'm pretty sure those aren't B's.She's got the wrong initials.""I would love to get fired, I'm not gonna lie.
Because there's zero chance I'm gonna be working the next six or seven years, zero," Barkley continued on Wednesday."Come on, man.People can't take a joke? They can kiss my ass.
I appreciate all the support I've gotten all these years, but if anybody thinks everybody likes them, they're a fool.So if people don't like me or don't have a sense of humor, they can kiss my ass.
My whole ass, not just one cheek.The whole ass."Charles Barkley on air before the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Michigan Wolverines and the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)ESPN'S STEPHEN A SMITH ACCUSES LEBRON JAMES OF LYING IN INTERVIEW, CLAIMS HE WOULD HAVE 'SWUNG' AT PLAYERFor the record, Barkley was saying he wouldn't work another six or seven years even six or seven years ago.As much as he jokes about finding ways to get fired, he still appears to genuinely enjoy his work on "Inside the NBA," which is serving as the studio show before, during, and after the NBA Finals on ABC for the first time.In a best-of-both-worlds scenario, Barkley now appears on ESPN platforms without actually working for the company.
"Inside the NBA" remains a TNT production that ESPN licenses without editorial control, similar to the "Pat McAfee Show."And e...