Charles Barkley was cautious. Awaiting the filming of a commercial in TNT's new National Basketball Association promotional campaign yesterday at a sound stage in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, he said: "The people who make these spots don't have a clue. They don't know what's funny."

Even a Coors Original commercial directed last year by Spike Lee, who is also in charge of the TNT campaign through his agency, Spike DDB, made the jolly Barkley unhappy.

"I should have done the one that Kid Rock did," said Barkley, the star of TNT's "Inside the NBA."

It is natural that TNT would look to the stars of its studio to be part of a campaign that includes Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Ben Wallace. Since Barkley's arrival, "Inside the NBA" has been a must watch for its humor, unpredictability and occasional foray into danger. The host Ernie Johnson has emerged as a sports Bud Abbott, a straight man to Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Magic Johnson.

"Everyone thinks we're joined at the hip," Smith said. "When people see me, they ask, 'Where's Charles?' Like I knew. It's hilarious. I'll be in a bathroom in a restaurant, and somebody says, 'Where's Charles?' And I'll say, 'Right here in the next stall.' "

The set was made to look like TNT had hired the Little Rascals to overhaul the look of the studio used for "Inside the NBA''. There are cardboard TV sets, a Shaq bobblehead doll with a hair transplant and a TNT logo encircled by a bicycle tire painted yellow. Behind a desk (a door set up horizontally), Barkley & Co. sat crammed together as if they were on kindergarten chairs.

Three girls and a boy _- about 8 or 9 years old - in oversized N.B.A. jerseys sat in as guests.

After the kids offered their thoughts on who the next Dr. J, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan would be, Smith asked, "Who do you think's going to be the new Barkley?"

"Who?" the four kids replied in unison.

Barkley glared. His cohorts laughed and laughed, take after take.