Charles Barkley Announces Retirement from Broadcasting Following the 2024-25 NBA Season

Legendary NBA player and broadcaster Charles Barkley says he’s getting ready to retire from broadcasting. The longtime TNT sports commentator says next season will be his final year on TV.

Barkley made the stunning announcement on Friday night on NBA TV after Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

“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,” Barkey said. “But, I have made the decision myself, 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. But I’m gonna pass the baton at the end of next year.”

TNT’s famed studio show Inside the NBA has featured Barkley, the Hall of Fame basketball player, since 2000. His decision to leave at the end of the 2024-25 season coincides with what might be TNT’s final year as an NBA broadcast partner. According to multiple reports over the past several weeks, ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon will be the NBA’s broadcast partners, starting in the fall of 2025.

There is a possibility, albeit slight, that a smaller slate of NBA games lands at TNT, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

Barkley continued, “I hope the NBA stays with TNT but for me personally, I wanted you guys to hear it from me. Because I’m not doing any more interviews. Don’t y’all be calling me. Nobody call me. I’m not talking about this again. But I wanted to tell my NBA TV and TNT family that I’m not going to another network.”

“Next year, I am going to retire after 25 years. And I just want to say thank you. And I want you all to hear it from me first,” concluded Barkley. “Next year is gonna be a great year, no matter what happens. And thank you NBA people, TNT and NBA TV — and everybody.”

Inside the NBA, winner of multiple Sports Emmys throughout its near three-decade run, has set the bar for sports talk television and studio shows with the engaging and outspoken Barkley as one of its integral parts.