Even if TNT still hopes to keep some matches, the NBA has reached a $76 billion deal with ESPN, NBC and Amazon for its television broadcast until 2036. So this is probably the end of the show. Inside The NBA” with Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
Next season, the last of the previous contract, will in any case be the last for the former Phoenix player. He made a point of announcing it himself, after Game 4 of the Finals.
“I just want to thank the entire NBA family. I love you. There's been a lot of noise around the channel over the last few months and I mean I've talked to the other channels, but I won't go anywhere other than TNT.”, he specifies. “I made a decision: no matter what happens, next season will be my last on television. »
Thus, even if TNT keeps its flagship show in the long term or if ESPN, NBC or Amazon try to poach it, Charles Barkley, who did not hesitate to criticize his channel, will end his television career in 2025.
“Thank you to the NBA family, you have been great to me. I am filled with joy and gratitude. But I will hand over the baton at the end of the next season. I hope the NBA stays on TNT but I wanted people to hear it from my mouth. I'm not doing interviews anymore, don't call me anymore. I wanted to say it: I'm not going anywhere else. But I pass the baton to Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter or Steve Smith. I'm going to retire after 25 years and I want to say thank you. »
The former player will thus complete a period of 40 years in the world of the NBA. Indeed, drafted in 1984, he played on the courts until 2000. Then, the same year, a few months after playing his last match, he joined the sets of TNT and the show “Inside The NBA” in a consulting role.
