Charles Barkley, co-host of TNT's popular “Inside the NBA,” will remain a fixture on the network where he has worked for nearly a quarter-century.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer announced he will come out of retirement and work with TNT leadership to develop new programming and additional sports content.
“I love my TNT Sports family. My number one priority has and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible. We have the most incredible people and they are the best at what they do,” Barkley said in a statement released by TNT Sports on Tuesday.
Barkley's decision comes less than two months after he publicly revealed his intentions to step away from broadcasting next year.
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Charles Barkley looks on before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center on May 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Barkley's announcement also came amid uncertainty over TNT's future as the NBA's broadcast rights holder.
Last month, the The NBA rejected an offer Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has requested that it exercise its right to match Amazon’s offer for a portion of the league’s 11-year, $76 billion streaming rights deal. Shortly after the announcement, WBD, TNT’s parent company, filed a gag order in New York County Supreme Court.
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Ernie Johnson moderates “Inside the NBA,” while Barkley, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and two-time NBA champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith provide analysis. Barkley’s long-term commitment will see him “collaborate exclusively with TNT Sports for many years to come,” according to the press release.
“I look forward to continuing to work with them, both on the shows we currently have and new ones we will develop together in the future. This is the only place for me. I have to say… I have been impressed with the management team, who are working hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. I thank them and all of my colleagues for their continued support, and most importantly, our fans. I am going to give my all to keep them entertained for years to come.”
TNT's Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley speak as part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Brandon Todd/NBAE via Getty Images)
While Barkley revealed his intentions to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA season in June, he hinted in late July that he was open to other opportunities.
When veteran sports radio and television host Dan Patrick asked Barkley if he would follow through with his retirement plans since he was fielding calls from other media companies, the NBA legend said he was “going to listen” to what the networks had to say.
“First of all, I'd be stupid not to take your call, but the good thing about this situation … I don't have to make any decisions for a year, Dan,” Barkley said. “But I said to all three networks, 'Hey, I'm honored. I'm flattered that you all want to talk to me, but let's see what happens a year from now.'”
Disney, the parent company of ESPN, NBC and Amazon Prime Video were the three networks Barkley referenced during his comments. All three networks recently closed deals for a portion of future NBA streaming rights.
College basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
In May, the Sports Business Journal reported that Barkley has a clause in his contract that allows him to go elsewhere once the network's deal with the NBA ends.
During Barkley's conversation with Patrick, Patrick added that he hoped to be a sought-after media personality next year. However, Barkley also reaffirmed his intention to end his broadcasting career, making Tuesday's change of heart all the more surprising.
“But I don't think they (TNT) will guarantee it to me, to be honest, because they don't really have anything. So, I think I'll be a free agent next summer. Right now, my intention is to retire,” Barkley told Patrick at the time.
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While TNT recently secured the rights to select College Football Playoff games, the network will also be the U.S. broadcaster of the Roland Garros tennis tournament beginning in 2025. The shift toward tennis and college football could be seen as a way for the company to try to fill the void left by the loss of the NBA.
“Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in television history. I know I speak for everyone in the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly excited to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles' unique talent and entertaining fans well into the future,” TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a statement.
“We continue to expand the breadth and depth of our sports portfolio, including new properties in the College Football Playoffs, Roland-Garros, NASCAR, BIG EAST college basketball, Mountain West soccer, and more, and it's great to have Charles on this journey as we develop new content ideas and programming for our fans.”
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