Basketball legend Charles Barkley has introduced that he will likely be retiring from TV punditry after 25 years, on the finish of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Barkley, who recurrently seems with Shaquille O’Neal on TNT’s “Contained in the NBA”, mentioned his coronary heart was “full with pleasure and gratitude” however that it was time for him to go the baton.

The star player-turned-commentator made the announcement on NBATV, after the Dallas Mavericks’ Recreation 4 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday evening.

“I wish to say this since you guys are my household. I actually love TNT, all of the individuals who work right here, NBA tv – you guys have been nice to me for 25 years, and I simply wish to say thanks to my whole NBA household. I like you guys,” he mentioned.

“You understand, there’s been plenty of noise round our community the previous couple of months, and I simply wish to say I’ve talked to all the opposite networks – I ain’t going nowhere aside from TNT, however I’ve made the choice myself – it doesn’t matter what occurs, subsequent 12 months goes to be my final 12 months on tv.

“My coronary heart is full with pleasure and gratitude, however I’m going to go the baton on the finish of subsequent 12 months. I hope the NBA stays with TNT, however for me personally, I needed you guys to listen to it from me.”

Barkley added that he wouldn’t be doing any additional interviews on his retirement. “Don’t y’all be calling me. No one name me, I’m not speaking about this once more,” he mentioned.

Barkley mentioned he would seemingly go the function on to different former NBA stars Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter, who already make appearances on “Contained in the NBA.”

Identified by followers and colleagues on TV as “Chuck,” Barkley performed 16 seasons within the NBA as an influence ahead. He turned one of many league’s greatest rebounders and scorers, and is thought to be top-of-the-line in historical past to play the place.

He’s an 11-time NBA All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA Staff, and 1993 Most Precious Participant. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2006.

Following his participant profession, he turned a fan favourite, recognized for his searingly blunt takes on NBA video games and verbal jousting with O’Neal.

Barkley’s exit coincides with Warner Bros. Discovery media rights cope with the NBA expiring after subsequent season.