Barkley plans to end his run on "Inside the NBA"
NBA legend Charles Barkley says he plans to leave "Inside the NBA" after the upcoming season, provided host Ernie Johnson makes the same decision. Barkley joined the show in 2000.
Charles Barkley, 63, has revealed that the 2026-27 season could be his last on the popular basketball show "Inside the NBA." His decision is closely tied to host Ernie Johnson — the two agreed to continue working together for two more years following the show's move from TNT to ESPN.
Speaking on "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Barkley said Johnson had asked him to stay for two more years, and he agreed. As a result, unless Johnson changes his mind, next season will be Barkley's last on the show. If Johnson decides to step away, Barkley says he will do the same.
A complicated move to ESPN
Barkley had originally planned to end his TV career at age 60 but agreed to continue. Plans shifted again when TNT lost the rights to broadcast NBA games, casting doubt on the show's future. A deal was later reached to move the program to ESPN, and one factor that convinced Barkley and Johnson to stay on was the chance to preserve jobs for the rest of the show's team.
As a result, Barkley, Johnson and longtime analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith could be facing their final season together. Barkley said he has already thought about potential successors, naming former NBA players Jamal Crawford and Jalen Rose as candidates.
He also expressed a desire to reduce his overall television presence, saying he approaches it strategically and doesn't want audiences to grow tired of seeing him. Barkley joined the "Inside the NBA" team in 2000 and, over more than a quarter of a century, became one of the show's most recognizable faces. After TNT lost its NBA rights, he also met with representatives from NBC and Amazon, though he turned down an offer from NBC.
