Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said Tuesday he no longer plans to retire as a television analyst after the upcoming season and instead intends to stay with TNT Sports through the remainder of his contract.
Barkley, who works on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” studio show, announced in mid-June that he planned to work one more season then retire, regardless of whether TNT’s partnership with the NBA continued after the 2024-25 season, with the network’s contract set to expire.
In late July, the NBA split from TNT, announcing an 11-year media rights deal worth almost $76 billion with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video. The new deal runs from the 2025-26 season through the 2035-36 season. Barkley signed a 10-year deal with TNT Sports through 2032.
“I love my TNT Sports family. My #1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible,” Barkley said in a release. “We have the most amazing people, and they are the best at what they do.”
“This is the only place for me. I have to say … I’ve been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. I appreciate them and all of my colleagues for their continued support, and most importantly our fans. I’m going to give my all as we keep them entertained for years to come.”
TNT Sports Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser expressed excitement that Barkley will be part of the company’s plans moving forward as it aims to make additions to its sports portfolio.
“Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in the history of television,” Silberwasser said in a statement. “I know I speak for all the members of the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly thrilled to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind talents and entertain fans well into the future.”
The news comes less than two weeks after Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York Supreme Court as a response to losing its media rights to Amazon.
Warner Bros. Discovery alleged that the league breached its contract by declining its offer for a new media rights deal in order to partner with Amazon, according to documents obtained by ESPN.
The fates of the popular “Inside the NBA” show’s other members remain unclear. Host Ernie Johnson has said he plans to remain with TNT, but the status of fellow analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith remains unclear, according to ESPN.
–Field Level Media
