Charles Barkley to retire from television sports commentary in 2025

Former NBA player Charles Barkley revealed his plan to retire next year while live on air Friday.

Barkley, 61, has worked as a sports commentator for over 20 years with the TNT network. The NBA’s deal with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports is slated to expire after next season.

“I really love TNT, all the people who work here, NBA television — you guys have been great to me for 24 years. I just want to say thank you to my entire NBA family. I love you guys,” Barkley said. “There’s been a lot of noise around our network the last few months. And I just want to say I’ve 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.” 

Currently, the NBA is in talks with NBC, ESPN, and Amazon about a deal beyond next season. However, it hasn’t ruled out renewing its deal with TNT either, which Barkley expressed he was in favor of.

“And I just want to say thank you to my NBA family, you guys have been great to me,” Barkley said.  “My heart is full with joy and gratitude, but I’m going to pass the baton at the end of next year.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Barkley teased his replacements could be Vince Carter, a former NBA shooting guard who now works for YES Network as a part-time analyst, or Jamal Crawford, another former NBA shooting guard who now works directly for the league as a commentator.

Before he began his career as a sports commentator, Barkley was an 11-time NBA All-Star and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Barkley is also the shortest NBA player to lead the league in rebounds, at one point in the 1986 season averaging over 14 rebounds per game. He scored 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists over his career, something only three other players have been able to accomplish.