Charles Barkley on the Truth Behind His 10-Year Contract, His Future on Television
Earlier this year, Charles Barkley signed a new 10-year deal with Warner Brothers Discovery, formerly known as Turner Sports.
However, the outspoken analyst made it clear during an appearance on the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast that he has no intention of coming close to working that long.
When asked whether he really signed a 10-year contract after repeatedly saying he was going to retire soon, Barkley confirmed the length of the deal while adding a huge but.
“Well, yes. but they wanted me to let people know I wasn’t leaving, like, next week,” said the 60-year-old. “There’s no chance in hell I’m gonna be working when I’m 70. Zero. But they said, ‘Hey let’s just make people think you’re gonna hang around.’
“I’ll be honest with you. The only thing that keeps me up at night is trying to figure out when’s the best time to walk away. Because the one thing you don’t want to do is stay too long.
“What’s interesting is, I can’t believe I’ve been doing this s--- 23 years. That’s what’s crazy. I mean, that’s a long time. So what really keeps me up at night, to be flat-out honest with you, and I don't know the right or the wrong answer, is when’s the best time to walk away? Do you wanna walk away while the show is still successful or do you want them to go like, ‘Hey, man, we're really sick of seeing y’all face after all these years.’ So that’s really the only thing that keeps me up late at night, trying to figure out what’s the best way to leave.”
Why not work until 70 if the show is still successful, given the popularity of Inside the NBA?
“Well, I think that No. 1, I’m very realistic about age,” said Barkley.
“First of all, it’s really awesome that I’m 60. I never thought I’d see 60. And for me, I know that, and I don’t mean to be morbid, I’m not worried about death. If I had to go tomorrow, man, I’ve had a good run. I think, for me, I don’t wanna be working at the end of my life.
“I will tell you this, two of my mentors are Ernie Johnson and Clark Kellogg. And they told me being a grandpa was gonna be the greatest thing in the world. And let me tell you something, they are right.
“I mean, little Henry and the little girl, she’s new. Henry is 16 months, and little Charlie is like five months, and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me by far in my life. Henry’s starting to walk and run, and Charlie's just still obviously a newbie, but when they're 8, 9, 10, I wanna be around them. But like I say, I won’t be around when they get older.
“Like I said, I am not even worried about death. I’m not morbid, but I want to spend time with them while I can, and that’s my main motivation.”
One of Barkley's Inside the NBA cohosts, Kenny Smith, once said on SI Media With Jimmy Traina that Barkley is already retired since he works only once a week. Barkley had a typical Barkley reaction to that statement.
“Well, I think the difference between me and Kenny is Kenny is still having kids. He’s got two young’uns, so he needs the money. So he’s gonna keep working to the day they strip him off television.
“I think you have to leave. Like John Madden to me was like, ‘Hey, leave while people still want to see you.’
“You know, most of us, especially guys who play sports, you play till you suck. I can’t think of any guy who retired when he still had anything left in the tank. Probably Jim Brown was the last guy.
“So I kind of look at TV the same way. What’s wrong with leaving while things are still going good? Why get to the point where you’re like, ‘Yo, man, Charles Barkley is 72 years old and he still got his fat ass on television’? Nobody wants to see that.
“So I gave them my word I would stay for at least two more years till the new deal is up.”
Barkley then brought up how the NBA television rights deal expires after next season and that Apple and Amazon could change the broadcast landscape for the sport. If WBD were to lose the NBA, would Barkley go to another network? Would he go only with Ernie Johnson, Shaq and Kenny Smith? Or would he hang it up?
“I wouldn’t go by myself,” said Barkley, “and I would find it hard to go without Ernie, to be honest with you. Obviously me, Kenny and Shaq are close, but Ernie is the guy. So I would have to look at if they were gonna bring those guys, but also if they had other guys in mind who to partner with. The good thing about it is, I got a two-year window that I don’t have to worry about anything.”
You can listen to the full Charles Barkley interview below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
