NBA legend Charles Barkley has apologized for turning the air blue on live TV.

The Inside the NBA star accidentally let out an F-bomb during an interview with Sportsnet at the Stanley Cup Finals.

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Charles Barkley has apologized after dropping a curse word on live TVCredit: Getty

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The NBA icon was interviewed live on Sportsnet during the Stanley Cup Finals Game 2Credit: Sportsnet

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Barkley was forced to say sorry after an unexpected F-bombCredit: Sportsnet
Barkley was in the Amerant Bank Arena for Game 2 of the Edmonton Oilers series with the Florida Panthers.

The 61-year-old joined the ESPN on ABC broadcast during the first intermission break.

Later in the game, he was interviewed by Sportsnet in the crowd during the second break.

Barkley was asked about the Oilers’ chances of victory – but seemingly forgot he was on live TV.

“Well, they played great in Game 1 but they didn’t win,” said Barkley.

“[Panthers goalie Sergei] Bobrovsky was f****** amazing.”

A flustered Barkley immediately apologized for the slip-up and plowed on with his take regardless.

“Oops, sorry. I’m sorry. He was freaking amazing. I apologize to y’all kids at home,” he continued.

“He was freaking amazing. But you know, the Oilers man, they have been amazing. I picked them at the start of the playoffs.

“But the Panthers have been amazing, so I’m looking forward to the third period.”

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Inside the NBA’s Days May Be Numbered at TNT
“It’s Charles Barkley, I’d expect nothing less,” laughed one fan on X in response to the footage.

“Brilliant rebound,” added another, impressed at Barkley smoothing out the segment.

“Chuck is a national treasure,” commented a third.

On the ice, the Panthers took control of the contest in the third period.

Evan Rodrigues scored two goals as Florida won 4-1 to extend their series lead to 2-0.

Inside the NBA’s future?

Inside the NBA’s run on TNT Sports is in major doubt due to the NBA’s broadcasting deals.

The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.

But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA is up after next season and NBC looks set to take those rights in a $2.6bn deal.

If TNT loses its NBA package, it raises serious questions over the popular Inside the NBA.

One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which snaps up the NBA rights.

Barkley’s future on our TV screens is currently uncertain with Inside the NBA set to end following the 2024-25 season.

He recently opened up about the uncertainty surrounding the show, with TNT likely to lose the NBA rights.

“That’s the one thing that’s really, really bothered me the most about the TNT experience,” he told Mad Dog Sports Radio’s Beadle & Decker. “Like, hey man, just tell us something.

“Everybody’s got an article coming out every day about ‘We’ve still got a chance’ or ‘We’ve lost it.’

“You guys see us every week, how bout picking up the phone, saying ‘Hey, we still negotiating’ or ‘You know what, we’ve lost it.’

“Just truth us. Cause the one thing that really sucks, we gotta do this next year no matter what.”