Charles Barkley announced on June 15 that he plans to retire from broadcasting after the 2024-25 NBA season.
This came as news to Kenny Smith.
Smith, Barkley’s longtime co-host on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” addressed his broadcast partner’s announcement Monday night for the first time publicly. He doesn’t seem 100% convinced that Barkley is actually going to retire. At the very least, he seems perturbed that Barkley didn’t inform him or his fellow co-hosts Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal of his decision.
Smith addressed the issue while speaking at an event in New York to promote Australia’s NBL ahead of Wednesday’s NBA draft. Smith is a partner with the league and has a pending future ownership interest.
“I’m Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith,” Smith said. “I’m not retiring.”
(pause for laughter)
“How do you retire and not call the people you work with? I don’t even know how. So we’ll see. We’ll see.”
The NBL was the official topic on Monday night. But Smith made a point of interjecting the reference to Barkley when introduced Alex Sarran NBL alum and a projected lottery pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft.
Will Barkley really retire?
It’s the first time any of Barkley’s co-hosts have addressed his retirement announcement that he released without warning on NBATV after Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Barkley’s statement seemed final.
Charles Barkley says he will stop doing TV after next season; He has talked to other networks, but he won’t go anywhere other than Turner/TNT. image.twitter.com/sH89v0tI1D
— CJ Fogler’s account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 15, 2024
“There’s been a lot of noise on our network in recent months,” Barkley said. “I just want to say that I talked to all the other networks, but I’m not going anywhere else but TNT. But I’ve made the decision myself, whatever happens, next year will be my last year on television.” . .
“I just want to thank my NBA family. You guys have been great to me, my heart is full of joy and gratitude, but I will pass the baton at the end of next year. I hope the NBA stays on TNT… I’m not leaving to another network, but I’m going to pass the baton to Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter or you Steve (Smith), but next year, I’m just going to retire after I’m 25.”
Barkley’s tone has changed on multiple occasions amid broadcast negotiations that have so far left TNT out of the NBA’s next rights deal, scheduled to begin with the 2025-56 season. Barkley previously floated becoming a “free agent” if TNT doesn’t reach a deal and then suggested his own production company could take over “Inside the NBA,” a beloved institution among the NBA and its fans.
Now he says he’ll be done by 2025. But he’s changed his mind before. And a lot can happen between now and the end of the next NBA season.
