Charles Barkley, a Hall of Fame player and longtime TNT "Inside the NBA" analyst, announced that the 2024-25 NBA season will be his 25th and final year as a broadcaster.
Despite contract negotiations with TNT stalling in 2022 and uncertainty surrounding TNT's NBA rights due to the league's ongoing $76 billion media rights negotiations, Barkley confirmed his commitment to staying with TNT for his final year.
While other networks like ESPN, NBC, and Amazon have expressed interest in Barkley, he expressed gratitude towards TNT and the NBA family for their support over his 25-year career.
Barkley emphasized that his decision to retire is final, potentially passing the baton to analysts like Jamal Crawford, Vince Carter, or Steve Smith.
Social media reacted to the announcement, with fans expressing admiration for Barkley, while personalities like Robert Griffin III, Chase Daniel, and Marc Malusis praised his skills and impact as one of the greatest TV personalities.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: USA Today, NY Times, The Guardian, CBS News, Golfweek USA Today, Independent, Forbes, Washington Post, LA Times, NY Post, Fox News, FTW USA Today, Washington Times, Epoch Times, HuffPost, Jumper Brasil