NBA icon Charles Barkley learned that even legends aren’t immune to corporate reshuffles.

NBA fans dug into the talking head after he ripped into his employer for withholding information regarding the decision to move ‘Inside the NBA’ to ESPN. Barkley, a TNT cornerstone for over two decades, noted his resentments over learning from ESPN employees, not his own network, that ‘Inside the NBA’ was being ‘traded’ to ESPN.

The 1992 league MVP said he was first informed of the news after several high-profile ESPN employees welcomed him to the network by text message. “Scott Van Pelt, Brian Windhorst, Elle Duncan, Bob Myers, all friends of mine who I really like a lot. They texted me welcoming me to the ESPN family. I’m like, what happened? TNT didn’t even have the courtesy,” he said.

“Basically we got traded. If I was going to trade somebody that I had respect for and appreciate, I would at least give them a heads up. I wouldn’t let them hear about it from other people or the internet.”

For the fans of Barkley’s candid humor, his words were chalked up to being ‘classic Chuck.’ Many others in America voiced their belief that his comments were tone-deaf from a millionaire shocked by the reality of being an employee.

One user wrote: “Your employer is not obligated to tell you, Charles. And of all people, you should know this as a veteran in the industry. You are paid millions of dollars to entertain, Charles.”

Charles Barkley sits at the desk

Charles Barkley previously joked at working for ESPN ( 

Image:

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Another fan thought similarly and posted: “Welcome to the reality of being an employee. You do what they say, or you do not get paid. You are only there as long as the employer wants you. Everyone is replaceable.”

An NBA fan sarcastically added: “Oh puhleeze (please). Cry me a river. Does it really matter where you get your exorbitant salary from? Give me a break from the whining.”

The comments continued to pour in, with another saying: “Must be traumatizing to be treated like a common employee! I went through two buyouts without any advanced knowledge. Welcome to the real-world, Chuckie.”

Barkley has worked with TNT since 2000. After they lost the rights to broadcast the NBA from next season on, in return, the award-winning show was dealt to ESPN to remain on the airways.

In 2016, Barkley joked at the thought of ever working for ESPN. “They aren’t going to work me like a dog. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN News, ESPNU, ESPN Radio, and then come home with that little puny check,” he said.