The NBA’s $77 billion decision to divide up its U.S. media rights among Disney’s ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and Comcast’s NBC Sports has sparked a gold rush for talent. Now, another former NBA superstar is eying a possible media career in 2025: Carmelo Anthony.
The former Knicks sharpshooter is “talking to everybody” about possible studio and game analyst jobs, sources tell Front Office Sports.
Anthony would join the growing list of former NBA stars in play for Prime’s and NBC’s new hoops coverage, including Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, and Jamal Crawford. A media source indicated Anthony could also join ESPN’s existing NBA team.
Meanwhile, rising star Taylor Rooks is expected to host Prime’s NBA studio coverage.
The 40-year-old Anthony retired from the NBA after 19 seasons in 2023. The 10-time All-Star and former national champion at Syracuse has launched a number of businesses, including a content factory dubbed Creative 7 Productions and a venture capital firm called Melo7 Tech Partners.
The NBA’s 11-year media deal begins in the 2025–2026 season. For NBC, it will mark a return to the glory days of the 1990s, when the network aired all six of Michael Jordan’s championships with the Bulls.
Prime, meanwhile, will add the NBA package to its current Thursday Night Football deal with the NFL. The streaming giant, with more than 200 million subscribers, also boasts a rights deal with the NBA in Brazil.
Charles Barkley’s status is the looming specter over these negotiations. Despite the announced agreement for TNT Sports to license his Emmy Award–winning Inside the NBA to ESPN next year in exchange for a package of Big 12 college football and basketball games, Sir Charles raised eyebrows by saying he’s still talking to Prime and NBC.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Barkley told Dan Patrick this week. “I’m listening to NBC, Amazon. I want to know everything that’s on the table for me before I sign in. I love those guys at ESPN and if we end up there, I’m going to do the best I possibly can. First of all, they haven’t even given us any type of schedule, whatsoever. But I’d be doing myself a disservice not to meet with NBC, which I have. And meet with Amazon, which I have. And the number-one thing I’ve told everybody: ‘Can y’all give me a damn schedule?’”
When Patrick noted ESPN likes to get the maximum out of their on-air talent, Barkley said no way.
“They’re not gonna work Charles like no damn dog. Seriously, I got nothing but love and respect for ESPN. But I’m taking my time with NBA and Amazon. I want it in writing. How much do y’all think I’m going to work? … I want to know what they’re expecting. Are we going to have the same schedule? Or are we going to have to do ABC, ESPN, and TNT? … I’m not going to be doing ABC, ESPN, and TNT. That’s not going to happen.”
ESPN, Prime, NBC, and TNT declined to comment. Anthony could not be reached.
