Charles Barkley retiring? No need to rush.
One of his fellow media moguls didn’t really believe the statement. In fact, Stephen A. Smith said it was just a knee-jerk reaction to the TNT/NBA television coverage dilemma.
“I’m not saying Charles Barkley is a liar. I think Charles Barkley is very sincere. I just don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t think Charles Barkley is going to leave,” Smith said on a podcast earlier this week.
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Stephen A. Smith doesn’t think Charles Barkley will ever retire as he claims. (Getty Images)
TNT has aired the NBA for nearly 40 years but is in danger of losing its broadcast network, and Barkley has been highly critical of TNT executives.
“This is Charles Barkley, this is Charles Barkley, who loves the people he works for. He loves a lot of the bosses he worked for. He loves some of the coworkers he worked with on air and behind the scenes. To him, it’s family over there. And while they’re looking for work, he can’t imagine wanting to go work somewhere else, with or for someone else…” Smith continued.
“I’m not saying he’s lying. I’m saying you shouldn’t believe he’s gone forever. Don’t believe it. I don’t believe it for a second,” he joked. “His voice is too powerful. He’s too influential. He’s too much fun. And he loves basketball too much. He’s not 80 yet! He’s got a lot of life left. So I don’t believe for a second that this is the end. I think he’s just upset about the way his guys at TNT were let go.”
Charles Barkley competes during Capital One’s The Match IX at The Park West Palm on February 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images for The Match)
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“I’m not sure what to do,” Barkley, 61, revealed on NBA TV. NBA Finals Game 4 On Friday night, he said he plans to “pass the baton” regardless of whether TNT is able to continue broadcasting games beyond next season.
“There’s been a lot of turmoil at our station over the last few months. I’ve spoken to all the other stations and I’m not going anywhere but TNT. But I’ve made the decision for myself that no matter what happens, next year will be my last year on television,” Barkley said.
“And I want to thank my NBA family, you’ve been 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 hope the NBA stays on TNT, but personally, I’m not doing any more interviews so I wanted you guys to hear it from me directly.”
Charles Barkley claimed he could talk to anyone. (Mark J. Rebillas-USA Today Sports)
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The NBA’s current deals with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports expire after next season, and the NBA is in talks with other networks and platforms, including NBC, ESPN and Amazon, to move forward.
Fox News reporter Paulina Deday and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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