Charles Barkley does a great job in his role as an analyst for TNT and Inside the NBA. But he's not going to do that job forever. In fact, he recently revealed that he might stop working for TNT in 2016 when his current contract is up. And if he does end up leaving, it'll leave a huge void in the TNT stable of analysts.
There's a chance that that void could be filled by someone who would draw a lot of attention, though. That someone? Kobe Bryant. Obviously, Kobe's not actively pursuing a career in broadcasting at the moment, seeing as how he's still playing in the NBA. But Sports Illustrated writer/reporter Richard Deitsch put out a column earlier this week in which he made a case for Kobe taking his talents to TNT to replace the Round Mound of Rebound. And he spoke with Turner Sports senior vice president and executive creative director Craig Barry, who thinks Kobe would be the right person for the position—if he wanted it badly enough.
"He's obviously smart and articulate and he would be a great candidate," Barry said. "But like any job, there is a certain amount of passion that the person needs to have for the day to day. That element of passion and wanting to share the game is a huge part of being able to connect with the viewer. That's a huge part of being a successful broadcaster and I think Kobe would be great at it. But he would have to want to do it."
Barry also said that he doesn't think Kobe would have any trouble working with his former teammate Shaquille O'Neal, despite their differences in the past.
"They were a super duo on the court and regardless of what transpired between them, and I can't speak to it as an authority, there is no reason they could not be in a broadcasting scenario," he said.
So will Kobe ultimately land at TNT? Get back to us in a year or two and we'll let you know.
[via Ball Don't Lie]
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