Charles Barkley Declares This Season Will Be the Last for Him and Ernie Johnson on 'Inside the NBA'
- On a Thursday episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Charles Barkley announced next year will be his final season on Inside the NBA, expecting anchor Ernie Johnson to retire alongside him.
- Barkley initially intended to retire at 60 but stayed longer at Turner to help colleagues retain jobs after the network lost NBA broadcasting rights to other outlets.
- Although NBC offered a higher-paying contract, Barkley declined, stating he and Johnson are a "package deal" after Johnson persuaded him to stay when the show moved under Disney.
- With the program now licensed to ESPN, leadership faces uncertainty about the show's future without its two most prominent faces, though analysts Shaquille and Kenny Smith have not indicated retirement.
- Replacing the duo presents a significant challenge for the network; former NBA players Jeff Teague, Kevin Garnett, and Richard Jefferson could be contenders to join the banter-heavy studio show.
22 Articles
22 Articles
“I’m Going to Pass It”: Charles Barkley Drops Major Hint About His ‘Inside the NBA’ Successor After Confirming Retirement
Charles Barkley had already made peace with leaving Inside the NBA behind. He had been preparing fans for his exit from Inside the NBA for some time now. The NBA icon’s latest comments state why he expects next season to be his last. The Hall of Famer’s 2024 retirement announcement looked like the beginning of […]
Charles Barkley insists this year will be last for him — and Ernie Johnson — on ‘Inside the NBA’
Barkley said during a recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast that he expects the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season to be his last on “Inside the NBA,” adding that Johnson will be joining him in retirement.
Charles Barkley Claims This Will Be His, And Ernie Johnson's, Last Season On 'Inside The NBA'
Charles Barkley claims this will be his and Ernie Johnson’s last season on Inside the NBA. Yes, again. Of course, as has been the case before, there is one caveat. Charles Barkley almost retired when Inside the NBA was canceled by TNT before the show eventually moved to ESPN. He says Ernie Johnson is the […]
Charles Barkley Plans To Leave 'Inside The NBA' After 2026-27 Season
Charles Barkley said the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season will be his final year on "Inside the NBA," with host Ernie Johnson also planning to step away at the same time. Barkley made the comments during an episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" released Thursday. Barkley told Simmons that Johnson asked him to commit to two more years before last season, as "Inside the NBA" transitioned from TNT to ESPN. "I said: 'I love you, man. You're the best. I'l…
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