Charles Barkley has been very vocal about the way Warner Bros. Discovery/TNT have handled the situation around NBA media rights as their contract is set to expire at the end of next season. ESPN, NBC and Amazon’s Prime Video are expected to be the NBA media partners after the 2024-25 season. Barkley decided not to wait to see the outcome of the negotiations before announcing his retirement at the conclusion of next season. He made the statement on NBA TV during the post-game show for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
“There’s been a lot of noise the last few months and I just want to say, I’ve talked to all of the other networks, but I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT, but I have made the decision myself, no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television,” Barkley said.
Since that time many have weighed in on the topic with most believing Barkley will eventually change his mind. Draymond Green spent time on The Draymond Green Show talking about Barkley’s news and his beliefs of what will happen.
“Sir Charles, the great Charles Barkley says he is retiring from broadcasting after next season. Absolutely love Charles Barkley. Y’all know where our journey started, it did not start in a great place. Chuck used to sit on TV and say he was going to punch me in my face, he called me ‘Mr. Triple-Single,'” Green said. “He’s had his fair share of jabs and I’ve had my fair share of jabs as well. Nonetheless I absolutely love that brother and he is incredible; he is amazing and if he retires what a sad day for NBA basketball.
“We’ve all grown accustomed to hearing that voice for the last 20-something years talk NBA basketball. So, what a sad day for NBA basketball whenever Chuck decides to retire. However, I just think Chuck’s being very emotional, I don’t think Chuck’s about to retire. I just think Chuck’s in a very emotional state right now. He’s processing those emotions.”
Green believes that Barkley will make the decision at some point that he was not in the right frame of mind with everything going on to really think about his future. He and others believe Barkley has too much fun doing what he does on Inside the NBA with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.
“The decision doesn’t have to be made today, tomorrow, or the next day,” Green said. “And then you probably come to your senses and say, ‘I’m not retiring what was I thinking’…that is what I expect from Chuck…I think Chuck was just in his feelings.”
Green said not only does he not think Barkley will retire, but that he hopes he does not retire. He points to Barkley being that rare person where, “even the ones that think they hate him, they go listen because we all love to hear what he has to say.”
Green ended the conversation by adding, “If it is the case, we will do it properly, but it’s been a job well done sir. It’s been an absolute incredible pleasure to turn on TNT and hear ‘Sir Charles’ make fun of people, talk great about people, but more importantly entertain us like we had never been entertained during a basketball show in the history of this game that we love…So, I don’t think Chucks going anywhere, but if he is – much love to Chuck because he’s been absolutely incredible.”
