Auburn basketball legend and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has become a staple of both NBA and March Madness television coverage, but that appears to soon be coming to an end after 25 years.
Barkley announced on Friday that, with uncertainty looming over TNT's "Inside the NBA" as the league nears a new broadcast rights deal, he will retire no matter what happens at the end of next year's season.
"I really love TNT, all the people who work here, NBA television. You guys have been great to me for 24 years, and I just want to say thank you to my entire NBA family," Barkley said on TNT's "Inside the NBA" coverage of the NBA Finals. "I love you guys."
"There's been a lot of noise around our network the last few months," he continued. "And I just want to say, I've talked to all the other networks, but I ain't going nowhere other than TNT. But I have made the decision myself, no matter what happens, next year is gonna be my last year on television. And I just want to say thank you to my NBA family. You guys have been great to me. My heart is full with joy and gratitude, but I'm going to pass the baton at the end of next year."
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