When Charles Barkley and the rest of the Inside the NBA cast agreed to 10-year contract extensions, they did so under the premise that Warner Bros. Discovery would try to keep the media rights for the National Basketball Association. The existing national rights contract expires at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, and the bidding is expected to include existing linear partners and various digital platforms. Barkley, however, does not intend to regularly appear on television in the next 10 years, sharing as such with Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated.
“They wanted me to let people know I wasn’t leaving, like, next week,” Barkley said. “There’s no chance in hell I’m going to be working when I’m 70. Zero. But they said, ‘Hey, let’s just make people think you’re going to hang around.’”
Barkley has been on television for the last 23 years following a Hall of Fame career in the National Basketball Association, retiring from the game towards the top of the all-time scoring list and as an 11-time All-Star selection. He quickly became one of television’s most entertaining personalities and is set to co-host a new CNN prime-time show with Gayle King in the fall. Barkley has become a multifaceted talent on television, breaking down the game of basketball in a unique way that keeps people both informed and entertained.
“What really keeps me up at night, to be flat-out honest with you, and I don’t know the right or wrong answer, is when’s the best time to walk away?,” Barkley said. “Do you want to walk away while the show is successful or do you want them to go like, ‘Hey man, we’re really sick of seeing y’all face after all these years.’”
Part of Barkley’s reasoning to leave Warner Bros. Discovery before the end of his 10-year contract is his role as a grandfather, being around his grandkids Henry and Charlie as much as possible. As they grow older, he wants to have the ability to form a connection with them and be part of their lives.
Barkley told management at the network that he would remain on the show until the NBA media rights deal expires and then reassess from there. If the network were to lose the NBA rights, he affirmed that he would not find a new home alone or likely do it without Ernie Johnson, who he considers one of his mentors.
“I would have to look at if they were going to bring those guys, but also if they had other guys in mind who to partner with,” Barkley said. “The good thing about it is I got a two-year window that I don’t have to worry about anything.”
