When Charles Barkley Defied TNT With a ‘Secret’ Kobe Bryant Story

In a gripping revelation on ‘The Draymond Green Show,’ Charles Barkley shared a spellbinding tale of the late Kobe Bryant. One that defied TNT. During his appearance on Draymond Green’s podcast, Charles Barkley dropped a bombshell about Kobe’s rumored joining on ‘Inside the NBA.’

He revealed that Turner had signed Kobe to be a part of the Team. Along with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith, Kobe Bryant was going to be ‘one of the guys on the Thursday Night Crew’.

Inside the NBA’s team signed Bryant with great anticipation, envisioning the perfect synergy among the hosts. However, after a week following TNT’s signing of the Black Mamba, he expressed his reluctance to engage in any sort of promotional activity. Barkley revealed, “Kobe was going to come on ‘Inside the NBA,’ but it didn’t work out.”

Kobe Bryant is not a ‘Promotion’ kind of guy, Charles Barkley revealed on The Draymond Green Show

Unfortunately for fans, the partnership between Kobe and ‘Inside the NBA’ encountered a roadblock. The challenge arose from the ‘other requirements’ of the job. Being part of the crew required not just providing game analysis but also engaging in extensive promotional activities, to create a buzz around the show.

This meant that Kobe had to make appearances on radio shows, talk shows, and various other public platforms. Something he wasn’t willing to do.

 

Charles, while explaining the situation on the Draymond Green Show, said

“I’m probably going to get in trouble telling you this, we actually hired Kobe Bryant at Turner but he didn’t want to do all the other bulls**t”.

Barkley further went on to explain the various aspects of working in sports media and how some players are turned off by the other “bulls**t” that the job entails.

Coaching became a full-time ‘gig’ for Kobe post-retirement

Following his decision to forego joining TNT, Kobe embarked on a diverse post-NBA career. One notable aspect of Kobe’s post-NBA life was coaching his daughter, Gianna. Sharing his passion and knowledge for Basketball, Kobe dedicated himself to developing Gigi’s skills and fostering her love for basketball.

Their relationship garnered attention and admiration, as Gigi showcased immense talent and potential as a young basketball player. Kobe took pride in Gigi’s skills and dedication, often sharing moments of their basketball journey on social media platforms. These moments were one of the remnants that fans still turn to in the memory of Kobe.

Tragically, both Kobe and Gigi’s lives were cut short in a devastating helicopter crash on the 26th of January 2020. The loss sent shockwaves through the basketball world, leaving a void in the hearts of fans and players alike.