Charles Barkley to retire from TV after 2024-25 NBA season

Charles Barkley to retire from TV after 2024-25 NBA season

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who has been apart of Turner Sports (TNT) for over two decades, has elected to retire from TV after the 2024-25 season, he announced on Friday after Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.

He said that his decision comes regardless of whether TNT retains its media rights.

“No matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television,” Barkley said. “I just want to say thank you to my NBA family. You guys have been great to me–my heart is full with joy and gratitude. But I’m going to pass the baton at the end of next year.

“I’m not going to another network to either Jamal Crawford, Vince Carter or you (Steve Smith). Next year, I’m gonna just retire after 25 years and I just want to say thank you. And I wanted y’all to hear it from me first.”

Barkley has been a primary staple on TNT’s Inside the NBA alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal, a pre- and postgame NBA show on TNT that typically aired at least once per week. He also helps out with CBS Sports’ annual NCAA Tournament coverage with Clark Kellogg, Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, Jay Wright, Candace Parker and Seth Davis.

The NBA’s new media rights deal has yet to be agreed upon, so there’s still time for TNT to retain those rights, which will begin at the start of the 2025-26 season. Whether you like his analysis or not, Barkley, 61, will never be forgotten for all the laughs and jokes that he shared on-air. He was there to entertain about the sport he played his entire laugh–which he did as well as anyone.

The Hall of Famer players 16 NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. For his career, Barkley averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals, winning an MVP in 1992-93 with 11 All-Star appearances and 11 All-NBA honors.

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