Phoenix Suns legend and iconic NBA analyst Charles Barkley announced that he will retire from TV after next season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“I have made the decision myself, no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television,” Barkley said on NBA TV following Game 4 of the NBA Finals Friday night. “I want to say thank you to my NBA family.
“My heart is full with joy and gratitude, but I’m going to pass the baton at the end of next year. I hope that the NBA stays with TNT, but for me personally, I wanted you guys to hear it from me.”
???? Charles Barkley: "I ain't going nowhere other than TNT. But, I have made the decision the myself- no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television… I'm not going to another network… Next year, I'm going to just retire after 25 years." ???? pic.twitter.com/E966rKo7X4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 15, 2024
The 61-year-old Barkley added that he will not be going anywhere other than TNT. Next season will mark his 25th year with Turner Sports.
It is unclear if Warner Bros. Discovery will maintain their media rights deal with the NBA after next year. TNT has had a historic run with its studio show “Inside the NBA” that has won several Emmy awards after capturing the hearts of basketball fans everywhere for decades by featuring lively personalities like Barkley.
Multiple reports claim that ESPN, Amazon Prime and NBC are the leading candidates hold the biggest stakes in the NBA’s next media rights deal, which is set to begin in the 2025-26 season.
Barkley is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and Suns Ring of Honor after a storied 16-year career that included four seasons in Phoenix. Barkley guided the Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993 and won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award this same year.
He would have been one of the hottest broadcasting free agents ever, but now that appears it will not be the case.
Charles Barkley says Suns shouldn’t blame Frank Vogel for shortcomings
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
