Longtime TNT announcer Charles Barkley made a shocking announcement after Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, revealing that he will retire from television after the 2024-25 NBA season.
Barkley made the emotional announcement with little warning, explaining that he had considered leaving TNT for another network after Warner Bros. Discovery likely lost its NBA broadcasting rights after next year, but ultimately decided he was ready to hang up the microphone after the past year.
Berkeley explains:
“There’s been a lot of turmoil at our network these past few months. I’ve spoken to all the other networks and I’m not going anywhere but TNT. But I’ve made the decision for myself that no matter what happens, next year will be my last year on television.”
“I want to thank the NBA family. You’ve all been so good to me and my heart is full of joy and gratitude. But I’m going to be passing the baton at the end of next year. I hope the NBA stays on TNT. I’m not going to another network, but I’m going to be passing the baton to Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter or you, Steve.” [Smith]However, next year I plan to retire after 25 years of service.
Next season is already set to be the end of an era for TNT, which is on the verge of losing its NBA package to NBC. TNT could theoretically still match NBC’s bid or negotiate a smaller deal with the league, but all indications from WBD head David Zaslav point to the network instead pursuing cheaper deals with other sports like college football and tennis.
Barkley has been unhappy with the entire process and has voiced his dissatisfaction, calling company leaders “clowns” and criticizing how the changes would affect his “Inside the NBA” show. Barkley reportedly has the right to terminate his contract with TNT if they lose their NBA rights, and has even suggested his own production company could take over “Inside the NBA.”
Instead, he will retire, bringing to an end a career that garnered as many, if not more, fans as his Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
Barkley’s TNT career dates back to his post-playing season in 2000, and his work as an announcer has earned him four Sports Emmy Awards and numerous other appearances, most notably on CNN’s ill-fated “King Charles” alongside Gayle King.
In the ever-changing world of sports media, Barkley is unique. Above all, he’s known for his blunt honesty. If a player plays badly, he says he played badly. If he doesn’t like a manager’s decision, he says he doesn’t like the decision. If a current event bothers him, he speaks candidly. He doesn’t distort the truth or try to protect his ego.
Though his bluntness sometimes got Barkley in trouble, he was also one of TV’s funniest personalities, made even more so by his incredible chemistry with his “Inside the NBA” co-hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The quartet often made it feel like watching four know-it-all friends joking around, and they were beloved as a result.
Barkley said he’d like to pass the baton, but that no one can replicate what he does on television. There may be others who can blend entertainment and analysis in other ways, but there is only one Charles Barkley.
