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Inside the NBA is one of the most entertaining programs on television thanks in no small part to what Charles Barkley brings to the table, and while he signed a 10-year contract extension last year, it sounds like he won’t be sticking around for that long.
Sir Charles first linked up with TNT in 2000 shortly after bringing his NBA career to an end after 16 seasons, and while he had no trouble meshing with Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, he (and the rest of the show) really came into its own after Shaquille O’Neal joined the panel in 2011.
The chemistry between two retired big men who don’t really have a filter has produced plenty of hilarious moments over the years while helping Inside the NBA become the premier destination for fans who prioritize entertainment over the hard-hitting analysis Barkley and Shaq aren’t exactly known for.
As a result, plenty of people were understandably worried when The Round Mound of Rebound hinted he could defect to LIV Golf after the league approached him in 2022, but we were thankfully spared that fate after Barkley decided to extend a TNT contract that’s set to expire in 2032 and is reportedly worth upwards of $200 million.
However, it doesn’t sound like Chuck plans on being there for the entire thing.
Earlier this week, the 60-year-old Barkley appeared on the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast and made it clear he doesn’t want to be in the same place when he’s 70, saying:
“They wanted me to let people know I wasn’t leaving, like, next week. There’s no chance in hell I’m gonna be working when I’m 70. Zero. But they said, ‘Hey let’s just make people think you’re gonna hang around.’
I’ll be honest with you. The only thing that keeps me up at night is trying to figure out when’s the best time to walk away. Because the one thing you don’t want to do is stay too long.”
It’s pretty hard to blame someone who really has nothing left to prove for doing what they feel is best, but the day Barkley leaves Inside the NBA is going to be a sad one.