Barkley to Leave 'Inside the NBA' After Next Season

Charles Barkley, the basketball Hall of Famer renowned for his illustrious playing career and his no-holds-barred commentary on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” announced on Friday that he will retire from television next year. Barkley’s second career as a candid and outspoken commentator has arguably rivaled his achievements on the court.
Speaking on NBATV following the Dallas Mavericks’ Game 4 victory over the Boston Celtics, Barkley stated, “I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT. But I have made the decision that 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.”
Barkley’s departure is set to coincide with the expiration of Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) media rights deal with the NBA after the next season. While WBD, the parent company of CNN, has the option to renew its deal, reports from the Wall Street Journal suggest that NBC and Amazon have outbid WBD in the competition for the new media rights contract.