Charles Barkley is likely one of the most important media figures of the worldwide basketball neighborhood as evidenced by his lengthy stint on the favored Inside The NBA program. Amid the NBA seeking to enter broadcasting offers with different networks, Charles Barkley introduced that the 2024-25 NBA season shall be his final as a member of the Inside The NBA panel.
Charles Barkley, 61, appeared on NBA TV after Sport 4 of the NBA Finals collection between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, with the Mavs dealing with enterprise. Barkley, talking in his typical straight-talk style, has stated beforehand that he was looking for methods to maintain Inside The NBA going however shocked viewers together with his retirement announcement in the course of the broadcast.
“I ain’t going nowhere apart from TNT,” Barkley stated. “However I’ve made the choice that, it doesn’t matter what occurs, subsequent yr goes to be my final yr on tv. And I simply wish to say thanks to my NBA household. You guys have been nice to me. My coronary heart is full with pleasure and gratitude.”
Barkley was referencing the continuing negotiations between the NBA and Disney/ABC/ESPN, Amazon, NBC, and Warner Bros. Discovery for the league’s media rights. From early experiences, it seems that Warner Bros. Discovery was the one group out as NBC seemingly emerged as a frontrunner though Adam Silver and the NBA have but to share particulars of the potential offers. Because it stands, Warner Bros. Discovery owns TNT and Inside The NBA and if a deal doesn’t materialize, the present would seemingly finish anyway.
“I hope the NBA stays with TNT, however for me personally, I wished you guys to listen to it from me. I wished to inform my NBATV and TNT household that I’m not going to a different community, however I’m going to go the baton to both Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter otherwise you Steve [Smith],” Barkley added.
Charles Barkley added a no-nonsense air of authority on the present and his spirited and typically chippy banter with co-host Shaquille O’Neal and good-natured ribbing with Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Ernie “EJ” Johnson Jr.
Barkley has been with the community since 2000.
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Picture: Getty
