One of the most iconic and sometimes outrageous members of the media is calling it quits. Longtime TNT broadcaster Charles Barkley dropped the mic both literally and figuratively in an announcement that sent shock waves around the NBA and entertainment community after Game 4 the NBA Finals on Friday, revealing he will retire from the small screen after the 2024-25 NBA season.
Barkley made the declaration with little warning and plenty of emotion, going on to say that he has discussed leaving TNT for other networks due to Warner Bros. Discovery’s likely loss of NBA rights after next year, but at the end decided he was ready to give up the microphone after one last hoorah and move on to the next chapter in his life.
“There’s been a lot of noise around our network the last few months. I just want to say, I talked to all the other networks, but I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT. But I have made the decision myself, no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television.
“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, but I’m going to pass the baton at the end of next year. I hope the NBA stays with TNT … I’m not going to another network, but I’m going to pass the baton to Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter or you Steve [Smith], but next year, I’m just going to retire after 25 years.”
The 2024-25 campaign was already set to be the end of an era at TNT, with the network still on the precipice of losing its NBA package to NBC. Somehow, someway, TNT could still try to match NBC’s bid or negotiate a smaller deal with the league, but there have been indications from WBD head David Zaslav that the network will instead pursue more cost-efficient deals in other sports, such as college football and tennis.
Barkley has been unhappy and frustrated with the entire ordeal and process and has made his displeasure known, describing his company’s leaders as “clowns” and condemning what the change will mean for his “Inside the NBA” show. He reportedly had the right to opt out of his contract with TNT should the network lose its NBA rights and has gone as far as suggesting his production company could take over “Inside the NBA.”
Embed from Getty ImagesInstead, he has made the decision to retire, ending a broadcasting career that has earned him just as many, if not more, fans than his Hall of Fame 16-year playing career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
Barkley’s career at TNT goes back to 2000, the season after he retired as a player. His incredible run as a broadcaster includes four Sports Emmys and no shortage of appearances elsewhere, most notably with his ill-fated “King Charles” show on CNN alongside Gayle King.
In the constantly ever-changing landscape of sports media, Barkley is a one-of-a-kind personality, that marches to the beat of his own drum. Above all, he is known for his blunt honesty and not holding back his tongue. If a player plays badly, he says he played badly. If he does not like a coach’s decision, he says he did not like the decision. If he is annoyed by what is happening in the world, he speaks out. There is no massaging of the truth, no attempt to save egos.
Sometimes that rawness went over the line and got Barkley in trouble, but it often made him one of the most entertaining personalities on television, further elevated by the chemistry with “Inside the NBA” co-hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The quartet often created a feeling you were just watching four knowledgeable friends trading jokes about basketball (and each other), and they were beloved as a result.
Barkley said he wants to pass the torch, but there is no way anyone could fill his giant shoes or duplicate what he does on television. There may be someone out there who can draw in the amount of viewers Barkley attracted in some other way, but there is only one Charles Barkley.
One thing is for sure, he will soon have more time to further improve his golf game.
