Charles Barkley makes bombshell decision on his TNT future after speculation NBA legend was set to retire

Charles Barkley will beryllium staying pinch TNT done nan remainder of his 10-year, $210million statement contempt nan institution nary longer carrying NBA games aft adjacent season.

This comes arsenic a astonishment aft Barkley announced that he would beryllium retiring astatine nan extremity of nan 2024-25 NBA season.

It besides efficaciously signals nan extremity of a bidding warfare for Barkley's services betwixt ESPN, NBC, and Amazon - who each showed liking successful bringing nan Hall-of-Famer into their stables for NBA coverage.

'I emotion my TNT Sports Family. My #1 privilege has been and ever will beryllium our group and keeping everyone together for arsenic agelong arsenic possible,' Barkley said successful a statement. 

'We person nan astir astonishing people, and they are nan champion astatine what they. I americium looking guardant to continuing to activity pinch them some connected nan shows we presently person and caller ones we create together successful nan future. This is nan only spot for me. 

'I person to opportunity ... I've been impressed by nan activity squad who is fighting difficult and person been fierce successful adding caller properties to TNT Sports, which I americium very excited about.

'I admit them and each of my colleagues for their continued support, and astir importantly our fans. I'm going to springiness my each arsenic we support them entertained for years to come.'

Even though they are group to suffer authorities to nan NBA, TNT genitor institution Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) still has plentifulness of sports to screen - pinch nan authorities to March Madness and assemblage shot arsenic good arsenic nan NHL and MLB.

WBD has sued nan NBA complete nan convention denying nan network's matching connection for Amazon's authorities package.

'Given nan NBA's unjustified rejection of our matching of a third-party offer, we person taken ineligible action to enforce our rights,' TNT Sports said successful a connection erstwhile nan suit was announced astatine nan extremity of July.

'We powerfully judge this is not conscionable our contractual right, but besides successful nan champion liking of fans who want to support watching our industry-leading NBA contented pinch nan prime and elasticity we connection them done our wide distributed WBD video-first distribution platforms – including TNT and Max.'

The NBA countered: 'Warner Bros. Discovery's claims are without merit and our lawyers will reside them.'