Charles Barkley intends to stay with TNT Sports activities thru the rest of his contract.

The Corridor of Popularity participant introduced Tuesday that he’s going to now not retire subsequent season, reversing the announcement he made in June throughout the NBA Finals.

Barkley stated on the time that the 2024-25 season could be his final on tv, it doesn’t matter what sooner or later came about with the NBA’s media deal negotiations. He signed a 10-year contract extension with TNT Sports activities in 2022.

Warner Bros. Discovery, the guardian corporate of TNT Sports activities, has sued the NBA in New York state court docket after the league didn’t settle for the corporate’s matching be offering for probably the most applications in its new 11-year media rights deal, which is able to start with the 2025-26 season.

“I like my TNT Sports activities circle of relatives. My (primary) 1 precedence has been and all the time will likely be our other people and maintaining everybody in combination for so long as imaginable. We’ve probably the most superb other people, and they’re the most efficient at what they do. I’m having a look ahead to proceeding to paintings with them each at the presentations we these days have and new ones we increase in combination someday. That is the one position for me,” Barkley stated in a remark. “I’ve to mention … I’ve been inspired by way of the management group who’s preventing arduous and feature been competitive in including new houses to TNT Sports activities, which I’m very interested by. I admire them and all of my colleagues for his or her persisted improve, and most significantly our lovers. I’m going to offer my all as we stay them entertained for future years.”

ESPN/ABC, NBC and Amazon High Video have been anticipated to take a look at to court docket Barkley prior to Tuesday’s announcement. “Throughout the NBA” host Ernie Johnson has additionally stated he intends to stay with TNT however the futures of Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith stay unsure.

Barkley joined TNT in 2000 and has been part of the enduring “Throughout the NBA” display, which has gained 21 Sports activities Emmy Awards and has been a type for studio presentations. Barkley took house his 5th Sports activities Emmy for Remarkable Studio Analyst in Would possibly.

What Barkley’s long term looks as if if TNT does now not have the NBA continues to be observed. Turner has had an NBA package deal since 1984 and video games had been on TNT for the reason that community introduced in 1988.

Alternatively, the connection began to develop into strained when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav stated throughout an RBC Investor Convention in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t must have the NBA.”

TNT Sports activities additionally carries the NHL and NCAA males’s basketball event with CBS. It lately has added the Faculty Soccer Playoffs, Large East basketball, NASCAR and the French Open.

“Charles is likely one of the highest and maximum loved sportscasters within the historical past of tv. I do know I talk for all of the participants of the TNT Sports activities circle of relatives after I say we’re extremely overjoyed to proportion this mutual dedication to proceed showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind skills and entertain lovers neatly into the longer term,” TNT Sports activities Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser stated in a remark. “We proceed so as to add to the breadth and intensity of our sports activities portfolio and it’s implausible to have Charles for this adventure as we increase new content material concepts and presentations for our lovers.”

Barkley used to be the co-host of “King Charles,” a weekly communicate display on CNN with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. However the limited-run collection led to April after six months.