Charles Barkley is opening up about his decision to retire from broadcasting.
The NBA Hall of Famer, 61, announced last month that the upcoming NBA season will be his final year behind the desk on TNT’s Inside the NBA — and now he’s elaborating about why.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to work for another network,” Barkley said in an interview from the American Century Championship charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe on CNBC’s Closing Bell on Thursday, July 11. “It’ll be 25 years that I’ve been working with Turner, and I love everybody at Turner. But at this age, to go over and start over, I don’t know if I want to do that.”
With Turner’s role in airing NBA games seemingly unlikely after the 2024-25 season because of a pending new broadcasting deal, the retired NBA great is looking to transition to a new career, he said.
When he was asked by host Scott Wapner if “financial reasons” could ever change his mind, the outspoken broadcaster added some levity to the Wall Street-centric program.
“If I don’t have enough money by now, I’m the biggest idiot fool in the world,” Barkley, who played in the NBA for 15 years and has been on television for 24, said.
TNT, which has aired NBA games since 1989, is now facing a last-second shot at continuing to do so.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
On Wednesday, July 10, the NBA and network executives finalized a contract that would make NBC and Amazon Prime Video new partners, with ABC/ESPN still airing the NBA Finals.
The Atlanta-based network has five days to match the $76 billion deal, The Athletic reported.
The network and ESPN currently pay a combined $2.6 billion to share rights to the games, per the outlet.
Now, as Barkley eyes a possible new game plan, Barkley is looking back, and taking note, of his fellow TNT colleagues.
“I really feel bad for everybody at TNT — all the people I’ve been working with for the last 24 years, they’re like family to me,” he said. “I honestly, in my heart, I think we have lost the package. That’s my honest opinion. But I really hope we get a last-minute reprieve for the people at Turner.”