TNT Sports retains Charles Barkley as its commentator regardless of NBA changes.

• On Tuesday, TNT Sports announced that Charles Barkley has no plans to retire and will continue to be a part of the network.
• In June, Barkley announced his plans to retire after the upcoming NBA season.
• Barkley signed a 10-year deal with TNT Sports in 2022.

Charles Barkley isn't retiring and he's not leaving TNT Sports.

Even if TNT Sports doesn't secure NBA media rights, the renowned broadcaster and NBA Hall of Famer announced on Tuesday that he intends to remain with the company.

"I am thrilled to continue collaborating with TNT Sports on both current and future projects, as this is the only place where I feel at home. I must say, I am highly impressed by the leadership team's relentless pursuit of new properties and their commitment to growth. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and our fans, and I am excited to give my all in keeping them entertained for years to come."

The NBA's potential move away from TNT after next season has made Barkley's future uncertain.

Last month, Warner Bros. Discovery sued the NBA to compel the league to grant the company its matching rights on a package of games intended for Amazon Prime Video as part of the league's new media rights deal. However, the NBA deemed Warner Bros.'s match invalid, stating that the league's games are only intended for a streaming-only service. Despite this, Warner Bros. planned to stream the games on Max and also air them on TNT.

In the upcoming year, TNT Sports will acquire the media rights for NASCAR, The French Open, and over 65 Big East basketball games in addition to its existing rights for Major League Baseball, the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, the National Hockey League, and the United States Soccer Federation.

This year, some college football playoff games will be hosted by Warner Bros. Discovery, and Barkley will contribute to the coverage of these events.

Luis Silberwasser, TNT Sports Chairman and CEO, stated that it's great to have Charles on board for this journey as they work on new content ideas and shows for their fans.

After acquiring NBA rights during the 1989–90 season, TNT's "Inside the NBA" show became popular, featuring one of its stars, Barkley, who announced in June that he planned to retire as a broadcaster after the next season.

"Barkley declared on June 14 that he would not go anywhere other than TNT and that he had made the decision to end his television career after next year, regardless of any circumstances."

During a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show in late July, Barkley appeared to be uncertain about his decision to retire.

Barkley stated that all of his job prospects were open for discussion.

In 2022, Barkley signed a 10-year deal with TNT Sports and is currently in his 25th year with the company. In May, Barkley stated that he had an opt-out clause in his contract if TNT lost NBA rights. However, a source with knowledge of the contractual language has confirmed that this is incorrect. Last month, Barkley disclosed that his deal is worth $210 million over the course of 10 years.

If Warner Bros. Discovery doesn't secure a package of NBA games as a result of its lawsuit, TNT Sports' commitment to Barkley may prevent another network from recreating "Inside the NBA."