Charles Barkley intends to stay with TNT Sports activities by the rest of his contract.
The Corridor of Fame participant introduced Tuesday that he is not going to retire subsequent season, reversing the announcement he made in June in the course of the NBA Finals.
Barkley mentioned on the time that the 2024-25 season could be his final on tv it doesn’t matter what ultimately occurred with the NBA’s media deal negotiations. He signed a 10-year contract extension with TNT Sports activities in 2022.
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Warner Bros. Discovery, the mum or dad firm of TNT Sports activities, has sued the NBA in New York state courtroom after the league didn’t settle for the corporate’s matching provide for one of many packages in its new 11-year media rights deal, which can start with the 2025-26 season.
“I like my TNT Sports activities household. My No. 1 precedence has been and at all times will likely be our individuals and retaining everybody collectively for so long as doable,” Barkley mentioned in a press release. “… I am wanting ahead to persevering with to work with them each on the reveals we at present have and new ones we develop collectively sooner or later.
“That is the one place for me. I’ve to say … I have been impressed by the management staff who’s combating laborious and have been aggressive in including new properties to TNT Sports activities, which I’m very enthusiastic about. … I will give my all as we preserve [fans] entertained for years to come back.”
ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon Prime Video had been anticipated to attempt to courtroom Barkley earlier than Tuesday’s announcement. “Contained in the NBA” host Ernie Johnson has additionally mentioned he intends to stay with TNT, however the futures of Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith stay unsure.
Barkley joined TNT in 2000 and has been part of the enduring “Contained in the NBA” present, which has gained 21 Sports activities Emmy Awards and has been a mannequin for studio reveals. Barkley took residence his fifth Sports activities Emmy for Excellent Studio Analyst in Could.
What Barkley’s future seems like if TNT doesn’t have the NBA stays to be seen. Turner has had an NBA bundle since 1984, and video games have been on TNT because the community launched in 1988.
Nevertheless, the connection began to develop into strained when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav mentioned throughout an RBC Investor Convention in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “do not must have the NBA.”
TNT Sports activities additionally carries the NHL and NCAA males’s basketball event with CBS. It just lately has added the Faculty Soccer Playoff, Huge East basketball, NASCAR and the French Open.
“Charles is likely one of the greatest and most beloved sportscasters within the historical past of tv,” TNT Sports activities chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser mentioned in a press release. “I do know I communicate for all of the members of the TNT Sports activities household after I say we’re extremely thrilled to share this mutual dedication to proceed showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind abilities and entertain followers effectively into the longer term.”
Barkley was the co-host of “King Charles,” a weekly discuss present on CNN with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King, however the limited-run collection led to April after six months.
