basketball hall of fame member charles buckley He announced on Friday that he intends to retire from broadcast television at the end of the 2024-2025 NBA season, which will also mark the end of his 25-year career as an analyst.
The shocking decision comes amid uncertainty about the NBA’s media landscape.
The TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax will air live pregame on October 24, 2023 from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Barkley, 61, revealed the news on NBA TV NBA Finals Game 4 Friday night. He said that regardless of whether TNT can continue to broadcast games after next season, he intends to “pass the baton.”
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“I’ve been thinking about it, guys. I’m saying this because you’re my family. I really love TNT, everyone who works here, NBA TV – you’ve been so good to me for 24 years. I just I want to say thank you to my entire NBA family, I love you,” Barkley said.
“There’s been a lot of noise around our network over the past few months. I just want to say that I’ve talked to all the other networks, but I’m not going anywhere other than TNT. But, I’ve made the decision I decided for myself that no matter what happens, next year will be my last year on television.
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 14: Charles Barkley during the 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center on June 14, 2024 in Dallas, Texas Talking to the media before Game 4. (Stacey Revere/Getty Images)
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“I just want to say thank you to my NBA family for being so good to me,” he continued. “My heart is filled with joy and gratitude, but I will be passing the baton at the end of next year. I want the NBA to stay on TNT, but personally, I want you to hear my voice in person because I will not take it anymore Interviewed.
Barkley became a regular on the team NBA game night. Still, the future of “Inside the NBA” remains unknown as TNT’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery Channel, vie for media rights beyond next season.
Current agreements with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports are set to expire after next season, and the NBA has been discussing what comes next with NBC, ESPN and Amazon, among other networks and platforms.
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 7: Charles Barkley during the in-season game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on December 7, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada Signatures during the tournament. (NBA Photo/NBAE via Getty Images)
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But Barkley’s future will not be affected by these decisions.
“Next year, I’m retiring after 25 years, and I just want to say thank you to everyone, and I hope you’ll hear what I have to say first,” Barkley said, adding that he might visit with TNT’s Vince Vince Carter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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