Even before ESPN acquired the rights to TNT's long-running NBA studio show, Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley had openly considered stepping away from his television career.
That time has apparently arrived.
Barkley joined Turner Sports back in 2000 as a full-time analyst, and the Hall of Famer became a mainstay on Inside the NBA alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. He told reporters on Tuesday that this season would be his last for the network. He added that he plans to take a step away from public life once his television career comes to a close in the summer.
Charles Barkley confirms that this will be his last year on TV doing 'Inside the NBA'. "I'm going to take a step back from public life...I've had the greatest life a person
can have."@wsfa12news @wsfa12sports pic.twitter.com/jG3zIBGZhB
— Davis Baker (@DavisBakerTV) September 28, 2026
Barkley said:
“It’s been a great run. It’s been a great journey. I thank everybody for their support all these years, but I’ll be 64 years old. Ernie (Johnson) asked me to stay a couple more years. Last year was one, this year is two. But I feel really good. This is going to be more like a celebration, because, man, I’ve had the greatest life a person can have.”
Turner lost the NBA broadcasting rights last season, but ESPN made a move to preserve the Emmy-winning studio show. We'll have to see what the show looks like in the post-Barkley era, but it certainly won't be the same.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Charles Barkley revealed his plan to retire from ESPN's 'Inside the NBA'
