- Barkley explains why Warner Bros Discovery signed him to a $100 million extension
- Barkley denies he will still be working on his 70th birthday
- Former Suns star opens up on his long-term future in the industry
Charles Barkley recently signed a massive contract with Warner Brothers Discovery that will see him net $100+ million over the next 10 years. And while it was originally thought Barkley committed to being on-air for the next decade, he recently confirmed during an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina that he has no plans to cover the NBA for that long.
“Well, yes. But they [WBD] wanted me to let people know I wasn’t leaving, like, next week,” said Barkley. “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.”
Barkley has become a fan favorite in the industry thanks to his brutal honesty, interesting takes, and bold personality. As a former player and Hall of Famer, he has the authority to speak on all things basketball and he often shows no hesitation to speak on his mind on various hot topics.
But at 60 years old, Chuck is closer to the end of his television days than the beginning. Unlike many of his colleagues, Barkley has made it clear that he doesn’t want to work until he’s 70 when he’d rather enjoy the final stretch of his not having to work at all.
“I’m going to die sooner than later. Not that I haven’t enjoyed my life… But I want to just go play gold, and fish, and travel the world,” said Barkley.
Charles Barkley Has Become A Star On ‘Inside The NBA’
TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ is the league’s top postgame studio show, and Barkley is a large part of that success. The chemistry he built with co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith is almost unprecedented, and many fans struggle to think that any show will be able to match their charisma on screen.
Sadly, fans won’t have a choice but to accept the change. In just a few years, Barkley will be gone, and others from the crew may follow. What comes after that is anyone’s guess, but it will take some time for a new group to step in and take their place.
For now, we can still enjoy the TNT guys while we still have them, and you can bet that the fans will not take them for granted next season.
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