Charles Barkley announced on Friday that the upcoming season will be his final one on TV, regardless of what happens with the NBA’s media deals.
Having served as a studio analyst for TNT for the past 24 years, Barkley’s future on the network is uncertain as TNT may lose the rights to broadcast NBA games after the next season.
Despite potential changes in network partnerships, Barkley has made it clear that he will not be moving elsewhere.
While participating in NBA TV’s NBA Finals postgame show, Barkley stated, “There’s been a lot of noise around our network the last few months and I just want to say I’ve talked to all the other networks, but I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT.”
The NBA’s existing contracts with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports are set to expire after the next season, prompting discussions with NBC, ESPN, Amazon, and other networks and platforms about future broadcasting rights. Commissioner Adam Silver expressed hope that new long-term deals will be finalized soon.
Barkley, along with fellow broadcast members Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith, has been contemplating their future on the popular “Inside the NBA” studio show. While Barkley could attract interest from any network broadcasting NBA games, he has made the decision to retire after 25 years and hopes to pass the baton to a TNT colleague like Vince Carter or Jamal Crawford.
“But I have made the decision myself no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television,” he confirmed.
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