Charles Barkley Says Next Season Will Be His Last On TV

Charles Barkley is more than just an NBA legend and one of the top forwards of all time. He’s also a broadcasting legend.

So the fact that he announced his retirement from broadcasting — after next season — is news. Barkley, 61, has been part of TNT’s wildly popular Inside the NBA seemingly forever. He made the announcement heard ’round the pro hoops world on NBA TV.

“I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT,” Barkley, 61, said on NBA TV after the Dallas Mavericks’ Game 4 victory over the Boston Celtics in the Finals. “But I have made the decision that, no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television. And I just want to say thank you to my NBA family. You guys have been great to me. My heart is full with joy and gratitude.”

TNT is expected to lose the NBA to NBC Sports after next season. So there already was a breakup of Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson in the works. (Johnson has said on record he is staying with TNT/Turner Sports.)

Smith and O’Neal could resurface with newcomers NBC or Amazon, though it is Barkley who truly has moved the needle. And if not Barkley, then the entire group together as a team. But all good things come to an end, and Barkley’s honest takes on TNT are among them.

“I hope the NBA stays with TNT, but for me personally, I wanted you guys to hear it from me … I wanted to tell my NBATV and TNT family that I’m not going to another network, but I’m going to pass the baton to either Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter or you [Steve Smith],” Barkley said.

“But next year, I’m going to just retire after 25 years, and I just wanted to say thank you. And I wanted y’all to hear it from me first.”