Charles Barkley says he’s likely to leave TNT in two years when contract ends
Oct 28, 2014, 8:00 AM EDT
Getty Images Inside the NBA is one the joys of the NBA season. Every Thursday night Ernie Johnson tries to play ringleader with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal in a show that is part hoops, part barbershop, part mocking JaVale McGee and mostly just a must watch part of the NBA.
It wouldn’t be the same without the outspoken Barkley.
But after a couple more years he may walk away. That’s what he said at the TNT NBA season tip-off event in New York on Monday, something attended by Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Finally, Barkley said his time as a broadcaster for TNT is nearing an end. He has two years on his contract, and said that the lucrative new deal the NBA signed with TNT (and ESPN) won’t affect his decision to walk away. He did mention that he might change course and stay for an even 20 years, and also expressed an interest in taking a general manager’s job.
“I love my job, I love the people I work with,” Barkley said. “My big decision is, I’ve got two years left on my deal. That’ll be 17 years. That’s a long time to do a job. I would rather leave too early than stay too long. And 17 years is a long time. I told Ernie when I took the job, I was only going to be here four years. Now 15 years later, I’m still here. I’m leaning heavily toward it, toward finishing my two years and leaving on a good note.”
Having heard Charles Barkley expound on players and contracts over the past decade plus on this show, there is zero chance I would give him a shot as an NBA GM.
I appreciate that he wants to try different things, that he wants to find a new challenge. That’s healthy. That spirit is what makes Barkley Barkley.
But for selfish reasons, I want Inside the NBA to go on as it is roughly forever. There is no other sports pre/post talking head show as good (ESPN’s College Gameday for football comes close). It is must watch. It is a great perspective while being incredibly entertaining.
And it wouldn’t be the same without Barkley.
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- worldbfree4me - Oct 28, 2014 at 8:01 AM
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This is Chucks way of asking for a raise.. Lol
Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy® Note 4.
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- miamibeatles - Oct 28, 2014 at 8:09 AM
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Charles Barkley know his stuff tho, I’ll tell you that. Jokes around but is very good and straight to the point.
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- ProBasketballPundit - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:44 AM
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He’s the Common Sense czar in a world full of politically correct commentary. I’ll never forget when Dwightmare 1.0 was going on and Dwight Howard mailed in a 8pt, 8 rebound night on TNT and Charles was the only guy to call him out. We need at least one guy like that in every crew.
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- daddyghi - Oct 28, 2014 at 10:07 AM
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Chuck wants to get that maximum contract deal at the ripe age of 51. /this is probably hard-balling by chuck but TnT would be dumb not to sign him up. Inside the NBA wouldn’t win those Emmy’s without him.
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- thomaskouns - Oct 28, 2014 at 10:31 AM
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Chucks often all over the place on his opinions and future. I don’t read to much into this.
Plus, he likes to the tables in Vegas so I’m guessing he’ll stay.
Finally, as much as I love Chuck – he probably too flakey
to get hired as a GM. He was never known for his worth ethic and preparation which are key attributes of a successful GM.
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- ocgunslinger - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:08 PM
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He calls events as he sees them because he rightfully doesn’t care what others think of him. I’d hate to see him go.
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- kclanton80 - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:26 PM
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I also don’t Chuck is that happy having shaq join the team. Though its made out to be joking around, I sometimes sense an undercurrent of dislike between the two.
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- kclanton80 - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:27 PM
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it’s no coincidence that chuck starts disapearing more to call games and talking about retirement when shaq arrived.
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- amitko - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:35 PM
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Well, of course, he can’t wait forever to be the Governer of Alabama !
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- onlyavoice - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:16 PM
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Chuck just dogs his race for not being intelligent/educated,
then in the next breath he states he wants to be a general manager.
I would assume he’s referring to Popeyes Chicken & not the NBA.
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- scrp2 - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:16 PM
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Greatest job in the world. That’s what you should be saying if anyone asks you.
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- mackcarrington - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:44 PM
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” I would rather leave too early than stay too long.”
What, does he think his game is slipping or something?
Charles, you TALK for a living. You can do that till you’re 80.
The only concern is younger viewers won’t have any recollection of his playing days.
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- elcaminobilly - Oct 28, 2014 at 5:47 PM
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I don’t like this at all. The show was better before they brought Shaq on, but it’s still the best NBA show.
If Kenny Smith was talking about leaving, no one would care, lol.
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- theebadguy - Oct 28, 2014 at 5:56 PM
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Pay him whatever he wants
