Over the past two decades, Charles Barkley has become a staple of TNT’s award-winning “Inside the NBA” television program. Barkley helped elevate the longtime show to iconic status as arguably the best post-game broadcast. With that in mind, the former Philadelphia 76ers great recently unveiled his retirement plans.
Charles Barkley elevates TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’ to huge success
Shortly after Barkley retired from the NBA in 2000, he latched onto TNT’s “Inside the NBA” as a member of the three-person squad alongside longtime sports presenter Ernie Johnson. and former Houston Rockets star Kenny Smith.
Barkley’s arrival took the show to another level with his brutal and often unpredictable opinions, turning it into a must-see sports TV show. The show expanded to four personalities after Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal joined the mix in 2011.
The 58-year-old helped guide the program to winning 15 Sports Emmy Awards. It includes six for best daily show (2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014), five for best weekly show (2012, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021), two for best limited edition show (2019 , 2021), one for the best decoration and art visuals (2016) and one for the best social TV experience (2019).
Barkley also won four Sports Emmy Awards as a studio analyst, while Johnson took home six awards as a studio host. The program is a staple of the NBA community, but a drastic change is coming involving the former 76ers.
Charles Barkley reveals his retirement plans in TNT’s “Inside the NBA”
Barkley has spent the past two decades in front of the camera as a vital member of the award-winning “Inside the NBA” team.
The long-term future of the Hall of Fame has become an important discussion over the past few years due to its age. In a recent interview on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, DC, Barkley revealed that he does not plan to retire until after he turns 60.
“I only hang out for a few years and then they can fuck my ass,” Barkley said. “I only work until I’m 60. I already told them. I said ‘I don’t work until the day I die. It’s just stupid. If I don’t have enough money now, I’m an idiot anyway, so they should fire me anyway.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as the 58-year-old has hinted at retirement several times in recent years. Before signing an extension with TNT ahead of the 2016-17 season, he expressed he considered moving away in 2016.
Barkley has since remained silent, but his latest comments indicate he had already scheduled his departure from the award-winning show in 2023 or shortly thereafter.
Potential successors “Inside the NBA”
With a publicly in place schedule for Barkley’s departure, TNT will be working behind the scenes to reshape the show.
His presence is an important part of the enormous success of the program over the past two decades. The absence of the Hall of Fame leaves a huge void.
The company could choose to go for a three-person squad consisting of Johnson, Smith and O’Neal or find another top name to take fourth place. Former Miami Heat greats Dwyane Wade could become the preferred contender as he was already working on the NBA show on TNT on Tuesday alongside O’Neal, Candace Parker and Adam Lefkoe.
Wade has strong on-camera chemistry with O’Neal, as well as some familiarity with Smith and Johnson. Another option may be Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green, but that scenario won’t become available until he retires several years from now.
Nonetheless, TNT is preparing for Barkley’s retirement which will turn the award-winning program upside down.
As Sports broadcast on Facebook. Follow us on twitter @ sportscasting19.
RELATED: Charles Barkley Revealed Once Things Got Pretty Boring Behind the Scenes of TNT’s ‘Inside The NBA’
