Charles Barkley opens up on shock retirement from broadcasting on CNBC

Charles Barkley has revealed more about his choice to surprisingly call it a day on his career as a broadcaster following reports of the NBA finalizing a $76billion extension with ESPN and inking new deals with NBC and Amazon for its media rights.

On Thursday, ‘Chuck’ appeared on CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell’ from Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where he is playing at the American Century Championship, as he explained his loyalty to TNT and its parent company – Warner Bros. Discovery. 

‘I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to work for another network,’ Barkley, 61, said. ‘It’ll be 25 years that I’ve been working with Turner, and I love everybody at Turner. 

‘But at this age, to go over and start over, I don’t know if I want to do that…’

As things stand, TNT can still match whichever offers are on the table to continue to broadcast games beyond next season. 

But with that prospect looking increasingly unlikely, Barkley said that no money in the world could make him switch networks. 

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The former 76ers, Rockets and Suns star has a year left on his $10million, 10-year contract with TNT, which coincides with the network’s agreement with the NBA to broadcast games until after the 2024-25 season.

‘If I don’t have enough money by now, I’m the biggest idiot, fool in the world,’ said Barkley when asked if ‘financial reasons’ could change his mind from retiring.

‘I’ve been so lucky and blessed… I played in the NBA for 15 years. I’ve been on television for 24 years. If I don’t have enough money by now, I’m the biggest loser in the world.’ 

Barkley shockingly shared that next 12 months would be his last on TNT while taking part in the coverage for Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 15. 

His comments on Thursday come a day after the league inked contracts with ESPN, NBC and Amazon to broadcast games for 11 years.   

‘I really feel bad for everybody at TNT,’ Barkley said about the current media rights landscape in pro basketball. ‘All the people I’ve been working with for the last 24 years… They’re really family for me and I really hope we match… 

‘Honestly in my heart I think we have lost the package. That’s my honest opinion. But I really hope we get a last-minute reprieve for the people at Turner.’

Barkley has been a mainstay on ‘Inside the NBA on TNT’ since 200, forming one of the most iconic studio sets in the history of broadcasting along Ernie Johnson, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. 

Meanwhile, in June, Barkley threated to punch a Mavs fan after being trolled about never winning an NBA Championship.