One of the most memorable assignments I had as a sports media writer was in 2013 when I rode the C train in New York City with Charles Barkley. The TNT NBA analyst had never been on the subway in New York before, and someone from Turner Sports had the clever idea to have Barkley take the train from Manhattan to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. “Barkley to Barclays!”
Both the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets were struggling at the time, and as we rode on a crowded subway car filled with New Yorkers excited to see the NBA Hall of Famer, Barkley heard a baby crying.
“I’m going to see the Knicks and Nets, so I know exactly how that baby feels,” Barkley joked. The entire car burst into laughter. You can watch my amateur footage of some of the ride here.
Someone who knew Barkley well once told me that he hated being alone. That statement always stuck with me, and I noticed the energy he gained from being around people, even back in that subway car over a decade ago.
I’ve had several interviews with Barkley, but I can’t claim to have much insight into his personal life. However, in all my interactions with him spanning over a dozen years, including one time when I interviewed him in front of nearly 1,000 people at the South By Southwest festival, I never saw him alone. He was always with someone. If you haven’t read the story about Barkley and a man named Lin Wang, I highly recommend it as it sheds light on Barkley’s desire for companionship.
This is why I doubt he will leave sports broadcasting.
With the conclusion of the NBA Finals and the focus shifting to future media rights deals and the NBA Draft, a significant announcement came last week after Game 4 of the NBA Finals when Barkley mentioned that he plans to retire from TV after the 2024-25 season, regardless of the outcome of Warner Bros. Discovery’s NBA media rights negotiations.
“I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT,” Barkley stated on NBA TV. “But I have made the decision myself that, no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television.”
When I heard those words, it took me back in time. The first time Barkley hinted at retiring from broadcasting was in 2012, when he expressed doubts about completing his contract with Turner Sports at the age of 49.
Fast forward to 2018, when I interviewed Barkley for The Athletic and he once again mentioned an end date for his broadcasting career at age 60, only to continue past that milestone.
Despite his current age of 61, no one in sports broadcasting, including those close to Barkley, believes he will actually retire. There are speculations that he enjoys the spotlight too much to leave, and it’s likely he will reconsider when offered the right opportunity. While his recent statement about retiring seems genuine, many still believe he will continue beyond 2025.
Save this prediction: With some rest and rejuvenation, Barkley will likely prolong his career in television beyond 2025.
Charles Barkley, right, on the set with the “NBA on TNT” crew at the 2024 All-Star Game. Their future after next season is uncertain. (Brandon Todd / NBAE via Getty Images)
Top photo of Charles Barkley in 2016: David Dow / NBAE via Getty Images