TNT’s coverage of the NBA has officially come to an end. Luckily for fans, the hit show Inside the NBA is coming to ESPN. The show might look the same to start but that could change fairly quickly.
Charles Barkley announced that he plans on retiring in two years. He also gave a warning to ESPN.
TOP NEWS
Related: Ernie Johnson signs off one last time for NBA on TNT
“I said I’d work for two more years, and that’s what I agreed to,” Barkley said. “And I’m going to have to trust them. But listen, if they start trying to work me too much between ESPN and TNT, I’m just going to walk on home.”
Barkley went on to discuss why he decided to join ESPN.
“Listen, I actually have seven years left on my contract. I’m like, yeah, there’s no way I’m working seven years. I said, I’m going to be a good soldier for Kenny, Ernie, and Shaq, and the people I work with, because I love the people I work with, especially behind the scenes.
“I said, but the best I can do is two years. And them other five years, they got no chance to happen. And so I said, you know what? I’ll give y’all two years. They’re like, can we get three? I said, I just told you I’m going to give you two.”
"I actually have 7 years left on my contract…I'm gonna be a good soldier for Kenny, Ernie, and Shaq, and the people I work with…But the best I can do is 2 years."
– Charles Barkley on the move to ESPN
(???? @dpshow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 2, 2025
Charles Barkley is one of the most important pieces to the Inside the NBA show. It will be hard to move forward without him.
Still, Barkley said he will give the network two more years, unless they overwork him. As fans, we should cherish these final two years, as it will be the end of an era.
