Former NBA player Charles Barkley revealed plans to retire next year on Friday.
Barkley, 61, has worked as a commentator for more than 20 years for TNT. The NBA’s deal with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports is set to expire after next season.
“I love TNT, all the people who work here, NBA TV. They have been wonderful with me for 24 years. I just need to thank my entire NBA family. I love you,” Barkley said. There’s been a lot of noise around our netpaintings over the past few months. And I just need to say that I’ve talked to all the other netpaintings, but I’m not going anywhere else on TNT yet. But I made the resolution myself: whatever happens, next year will be my last year on television.
The NBA is currently in talks with NBC, ESPN and Amazon for a deal beyond next season. However, he also did not rule out renewing his agreement with TNT, which Barkley said he was in favor of.
“And I just need to thank my NBA family, they’ve been wonderful to me,” Barkley said. “My center is full of joy and gratitude, but I will pass the baton at the end of next year. “
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Barkley teased that their replacements could simply be Vince Carter, a former NBA shooter who now works for YES Network as a part-time analyst, or Jamal Crawford, a former NBA shooter who now works directly for the league as a commentator.
Prior to beginning his career as a sportscaster, Barkley was an 11-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Barkley is also the shortest NBA player to lead the league in rebounding, at one point in the 1986 season, averaging over 14 rebounds per game. He has scored 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists in his career, something that only 3 other players have been able to achieve.