Despite Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) no longer airing NBA games after next season, Charles Barkley has announced that he will remain with the company.
Barkley is entering the third year of a 10-year, $210 million contract.
This news comes as a surprising twist, given that Barkley had previously announced his intention to retire after the 2024-25 NBA season. His decision to stay also ends any potential bidding war that might have occurred between ESPN, NBC, and Amazon for his services.
Even without the NBA, WBD boasts an extensive sports portfolio that includes March Madness, MLB, NHL, and college football. The company has sued the NBA for denying its matching offer for Amazon’s package, but regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, Barkley will remain with WBD.
“I love my TNT Sports family,” Barkley said in a statement. “My #1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible. We have the most amazing people, and they are the best at what they do. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future. This is the only place for me. I have to say … I’ve been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. I appreciate them and all of my colleagues for their continued support, and most importantly our fans. I’m going to give my all as we keep them entertained for years to come.”
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Barkley’s commitment to WBD ensures that he will continue to be a prominent figure in sports broadcasting, contributing to both existing and future projects within the company’s diverse sports lineup.
