Charles Barkley calling it quits? Not so quick.
Certainly one of his fellow media moguls is not fairly shopping for it – in actual fact, Stephen A. Smith stated it is only a fast response to the TNT and NBA tv protection dilemma.
“I’m not in any method calling Charles Barkley a liar. I believe that Charles Barkley may be very honest. I simply don’t suppose it’s gonna occur. I don’t suppose Charles Barkley is leaving,” Smith stated on his podcast earlier this week.
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Stephen A. Smith thinks Charles Barkley is not retiring like he says he’s. (Getty Photographs)
TNT is on the verge of dropping out on the NBA after practically 4 a long time of protection, and Barkley’s criticism of TNT’s huge wigs has been loud.
“That’s the Charles Barkley you’re listening to proper now. A Charles Barkley that loves the folks he works with. That loves lots of the bosses he labored for. That loves a few of the colleagues he labored with on the air and behind the scenes. It’s a household over there to him. And he can’t think about desirous to be some place else, working with or for someone else whereas these individuals are in search of a job…” Smith continued.
“I’m not saying he’s mendacity. I’m saying, don’t consider he’s gone for good. Don’t consider it. I don’t consider it for one second,” he quipped. “His voice is just too highly effective. It’s too influential, it’s too pleasant. And he loves the sport of basketball an excessive amount of. He ain’t 80! He’s nonetheless obtained lots of life left in him. So I don’t suppose for one second that is gonna be the tip. I simply suppose he’s p—-d off on the method colleagues at TNT are being thrown out to pasture.”
Charles Barkley throughout Capital One’s The Match IX at The Park West Palm on Feb. 26, 2024, in West Palm Seaside, Florida. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Photographs for The Match)
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Barkley, 61, made the revelation on NBA TV following Recreation 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night time. He stated that no matter whether or not TNT is ready to proceed broadcasting video games past subsequent season, he intends to “cross on the baton.”
“There’s been lots of noise round our community the previous couple of months. And I simply wish to say, I’ve talked to all the opposite networks, however I ain’t going nowhere apart 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,” Barkley stated.
“And I simply wish to say thanks to my NBA household, you guys have been nice to me,” he continued. “My coronary heart is full with pleasure and gratitude, however I’m going to cross 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 personally, as a result of I’m not doing anymore interviews.”
Charles Barkley insisted he can speak to whomever he desires. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Immediately Sports activities)
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The present offers with ABC-ESPN and Turner Sports activities expire after subsequent season, and the NBA has been speaking with NBC, ESPN and Amazon, amongst different networks and platforms, about what is going to come subsequent.
Fox Information’ Paulina Dedaj and The Related Press contributed to this report.
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